THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS PROJECT ARE TO: (I) DEMONSTRATE AN OPTIMAL ANION EXCHANGE MEMBRANE(AEM) CONFIGURATION AND MODE OF OPERATION THAT WILL ACHIEVE DOE GOALS OF 2.0 A/CM2 OPERATION AT <1.8 V WITH DEGRADATION RATE OF <4 MV/KHR AT A SCALE OF 90 CM2; AND (II) CONDUCT A TECHNOECONOMIC ANALYSIS SHOWING HOW THESE RESULTS WILL MEET A HYDROGEN PRODUCTION COST <$2/KGH2. MATERIAL COMPATIBILITY FOR CELL STACK COMPONENTS, SYSTEM OPERATION, AND ASSEMBLING NEW MATERIALS INTO A CELL STACK HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY ADVANCED THROUGH PREVIOUS COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN ORION AND NEL. WE PROPOSE TO EXTEND THESE ACHIEVEMENTS WITHIN THIS PROJECT BY ADDING CHARACTERIZATION CAPABILITY AND MANUFACTURING EXPERTISE TO PRODUCE CONSISTENT AND ROBUST FILMS.