Hydrogen-driven Economy and Utilization

Die Elektrolyse des Wassers: Ihre Durchführung und Anwendung : Von Victor Engelhardt (Mit 90 Figuren und 15 Tabellen im Text). Halle a/S. Verlag von Wilhelm Knapp. 1902. (Preis M. 5.)

Development of a hydrogen fuelling infrastructure in the Northeast U.S.A.

Development of the clean and green energy sources is the most intensive research in the present energy crisis scenario. In this approach, hydrogen (H2) can be a promising source of clean energy due to its high energy density in molecular form. There are various methods for the H2 production such as water splitting by providing heat energy, partial oxidation, and steam reforming. The main drawback of these methods is that they leave behind carbon emission while H2 production. Electrolysis of water by the electrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions (HER) is more valuable and proficient method to produce H2 because it is of low cost and pollution free. The key point of the electrochemical water splitting to produce hydrogen is that its kinetics is slow. To enhance the H2 production, the HER kinetics need to be faster and for that an efficient electrocatalyst is required which must be earth abundant and cost effective. This book chapter covers the basics of electrochemical water splitting with providing a clear idea of the water-splitting mechanism via HER. Here, a fruitful discussion about the selection of electrocatalysts for electrochemical water splitting has been included with theoretical, computational, and experimental perspective. A detailed discussion has been carried out for the performances of various electrocatalysts for an effective water splitting in this book chapter.

Methane reforming and water splitting using zirconia-supported cerium oxide in a volumetric receiver–reactor with different types of foam devices

There is a critical need to develop clean, environmental friendly and sustainable energy sources to substitute the rapidly depleting conventional fossil fuels - causing serious global environmental concerns. In the pursuit of this need, hydrogen is attracting immense attention due to its clean, non- carbonaceous nature and also, high energy density as compared to petroleum based energy sources[ 1 ]. Over the past few decades, catalytic methane conversion, steam reforming and coal gasification etc. have been widely used for hydrogen production. However, the toxic greenhouse gases (CO/CO2) produced render these techniques environmentally less attractive. Therefore, hydrogen production from water splitting (H2O® H2+ 0.5 O2) is considered a far cleaner and more efficient technique among all other conventional hydrogen production methods. However, the efficiency of water electrolysis has been severely constrained by the energy intensive anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) (4OH−→ O2+ 2H2O + 4e−) which is the other important half reaction in addition to hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). To date, platinum group metal (PGM) based materials such as Pt, RuO2, IrO2 are well known for their superior electrochemical performance towards OER. Commercial implementation of these electrocatalsts for water splitting has been largely limited due to their high cost and scarcity[ 2 ]. Thus, identification and development of earth abundant, cheap and PGM-free electro-catalysts, demonstrating excellent electro-catalytic activity and robust stability (for OER); comparable/superior to state-of-the art PGM/noble metals based electro-catalysts is critically desired[ 3 ]. Therefore, in the present study, exploiting theoretical first principles approaches, we have engineered anionic fluorine (F) doped transition metal non-oxide pnictide (TMN) based electro-catalyst for OER in alkaline mediated water electrolysis. We have observed remarkable enhancement in the electro-catalytic activity by incorporation of F into the as-synthesized TMN based electro-catalyst. The electro-catalyst powder with F content of 5 wt. % (Fig. 1) has been synthesized using solid state approaches. The as-synthesized electro-catalyst powder was coated on porous titanium (Ti) substrate (total catalyst loading=1 mg/cm2) and used as an anode. The electro-catalyst with F content of 5 wt. % exhibited excellent electro-catalytic performance, outperforming the benchmark IrO2 for OER in alkaline water splitting. The electrochemical response of the electro-catalysts has been evaluated in a three-electrode configuration system, using 1N KOH solution. Correspondingly, Pt wire and Hg/Hg2SO4 are used as a counter electrode and reference electrode (+0.65 V with respect to normal hydrogen electrode, NHE) respectively. Electrochemical characterization of the electrocatalyst has been performed with a scan rate of 10 mV/sec at 40oC. The generated PGM-free electro-catalyst exhibited significantly lower charge transfer resistance (Rct) than benchmark IrO2. In addition, this PGM-free electro-catalyst displayed remarkable ~7.6 fold higher electro-catalytic OER activity (i.e. current density, at 1. 55V) than that of IrO2 and reached a current density of ~ 10 mA/cm2 at an overpotential of ~ 300 mV. The chronoamperometry test conducted in 1N KOH solution at ~1.55 V (vs NHE) for 24 hours shows the minimal loss in current density, signifying a robust electrochemical stability of the as-prepared electro-catalyst. In summary, we have synthesized high performance PGM-free F doped TMN pnictide based electro-catalyst for alkaline mediated water splitting. The observed enhanced electrocatalytic activity of this electro-catalyst is mainly attributed to the modified electronic structure (as supported by the theoretical study) and lower charge transfer resistance (i.e. lower activation polarization). Based on these results we believe that this PGM-free electro-catalyst is indeed a promising and reliable system for sustainable and economic hydrogen production. Results of this work will be presented and discussed.

Technical and economic analysis of a pilot-scale hydrogen system: From production to application

Tar produced during biomass steam reforming is a complex mixture of single to multiple ring aromatic compounds and it is necessary to eliminate them in order to prevent any condensation-polymerisation problem. Tar steam reforming leads to additional hydrogen that improves gas production. Previous works have shown that olivine was active in tar removal during biomass gasification and the iron distribution into the mineral different phases has a real influence on its efficiency. A Fe/olivine catalytic system has been designed to study tar steam reforming. This work presents the Fe/olivine catalyst characterizations (XRD, Mössbauer, TPR) and compares the Fe/olivine and olivine reactivity in toluene steam reforming, a tar model molecule. At 850 °C, an important conversion (95%) was observed for Fe/olivine during 7 h. The strong interaction between iron and olivine, and the equilibrium between Fe 0 /Fe II /Fe III seem to be responsible of the catalyst activity and stability in toluene steam reforming.

Cracking, steam reforming, dry reforming, and combined steam and dry reforming of toluene in model syngas were performed using catalysts to simulate tar removal produced during biomass gasification...

One promising way to store and distribute large amounts of renewable energy is water electrolysis, coupled with transport of hydrogen in the gas grid and storage in tanks and caverns. The intermittent availability of renewal energy makes it difficult to integrate it with established alkaline water electrolysis technology. Proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis (PEMEC) is promising, but limited by the necessity to use expensive platinum and iridium catalysts. The expected solution is anion exchange membrane (AEM) water electrolysis, which combines the use of cheap and abundant catalyst materials with the advantages of PEM water electrolysis, namely, a low foot print, large operational capacity, and fast response to changing operating conditions. The key component for AEM water electrolysis is a cheap, stable, gas tight and highly hydroxide conductive polymeric AEM. Here, we present target values and technical requirements for AEMs, discuss the chemical structures involved and the related degradation pathways, give an overview over the most prominent and promising commercial AEMs (Fumatech Fumasep® FAA3, Tokuyama A201, Ionomr Aemion™, Dioxide materials Sustainion®, and membranes commercialized by Orion Polymer), and review their properties and performances of water electrolyzers using these membranes.

Free fuel-based energy sources (solar and wind) are demonstrating three long term trends in the electrification of sustainable energy. The three trends point toward a future in which sustainable energy is affordable, abundant and deployed with high energy efficiency. These three trends are going to have major economic, geo-political and environmental benefits to humanity. Driven by advancements in the technology of lithium batteries (cost reduction and increase in energy density), and the availability of low-cost sustainable clean electric power, the electrification of surface and air transportation is going through fundamental disruptive transformation. Volume manufacturing, similar to photovoltaic modules is mainly responsible for the cost reduction of lithium ion batteries. Doubling the volume of cumulative manufacturing leads to a cost reduction of about 22% in lithium ion batteries. Similar to Tesla’s Gigawatt factory in the United States, a number of manufacturers in China, Japan and South Korea are setting up ultra-large-scale manufacturing of lithium ion batteries. The long-term cost of supplying grid electricity from today’s lithium-ion batteries is falling even faster than expected, making them an increasingly cost-competitive alternative to natural-gas-fired power plants across a number of key energy markets. As an example, on March 28, 2019 Florida Power and Light in the United States announced that it would retire two natural gas plants and replace those plants with what is likely to be world’s largest photovoltaics-powered battery bank when it’s completed in 2021. Thus, without any doubt, both power and transportation sectors will provide phenomenal growth of power electronics in the 21st century. What role the silicon Carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) based power electronics will play in the power and transportation sectors? The importance of SiC based power devices has been realized almost at the same time when silicon based low power devices were being developed in 50s. In the 21st century both SiC and GaN are drawing the attention as potential replacement of Si based power electronics and may open some new markets where Si based power electronics cannot function either due to power or temperature limitations. Public private funding agencies such as United States of Department of Energy have addressed the challenges and opportunities of wide band gap semiconductor power electronics [1]. According to a report from IHS market, the emerging market for SiC and GaN power semiconductors is expected to reach nearly $1 billion in 2020 [2]. While it is true that there exists a niche market GaN products, the phenomenal growth of WBG power electronics is questionable. To compare the cost of Si and GaN based products, we have plotted the cost of Si and GaN MOSFET’s as a function of volume of purchased devices in Figure [3, 4]. For 250 units (highest volume price listed in reference 4), the cost compared to a single GaN transistor has been reduced by 13.8 %. On the other hand, for 250 units, the cost of a single Si transistor is reduced by 35.6 %. Thus, cost is the major barrier in replacing Si based power electronics by WBG based power electronics. In an earlier publication [5], we have discussed the pathways that can lead to the reduction of manufacturing cost of WBG based products. Photovoltaics generates direct current (DC) power and batteries store DC power. As compared to alternating current power, at least 30 % capital cost and the cost of electric power is saved by local DC power networks. Direct current (DC) power enables fast charging of electric vehicles. Thus, the use of low voltage (<1,500 V) local DC power networks will further reduce the need of inverters but will need DC-DC converters. In this paper we will identify the WBG based key power electronics products that should be focused to see high growth of WBG based power electronics. Cost and performance of 48 V induction cooking device based on Si and GaN MOSFET switches will also be presented. References I. C. Kizilyalli, E. P. Carlson, D. W. Cunningham, J. S. Manser, Y. Xu, A. Y. Liu, March 13, 2018. Available at: https://arpae.energy.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/ARPA-E_Power_Electronics_Paper-April2018.pdf .R. Aden, April 24, 2018. Available at: https://technology.ihs.com/602187/market-for-gan-and-sic-power-semiconductors-to-top-10-billion-in-2027Available at: https://lcsc.com/product-detail/MOSFET_International-Rectifier_IRFP260MPBF_International-Rectifier-IR-IRFP260MPBF_C2679.htmlAvailable at: https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/GaN-Systems/GS66508B-E01-MR?qs=etoTMWSvtH88Sj8NJfVvjg%3D%3D&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI1eHK4_O74QIVEYTICh2L3wLREAAYASAAEgKAzfD_BwER. Singh and A.A. Asif, ECS Transactions, 75(12), 11-18, 2016. Figure 1

Renewable hydrogen production has an opportunity to reduce carbon emissions in the transportation and industrial sectors. This method generates hydrogen utilizing renewable energy sources, such as the sun, wind, and hydropower, lowering the number of greenhouse gases released into the environment. In recent years, considerable progress has been made in the production of sustainable hydrogen, particularly in the disciplines of electrolysis, biomass gasification, and photoelectrochemical water splitting. This review article figures out the capacity, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of hydrogen production from renewable sources effectively comparing the conventionally used technologies with the latest techniques, which are getting better day by day with the implementation of the technological advancements. Governments, investors, and industry players are increasingly interested in manufacturing renewable hydrogen, and the global need for clean energy is expanding. It is projected that facilities for manufacturing renewable hydrogen, as well as infrastructure to support this development, would expand, hastening the transition to an environment-friendly and low-carbon economy.

Switching to a U.S. hydrogen fuel cell vehicle fleet: The resultant change in emissions, energy use, and greenhouse gases

Biomass gasification for climate change mitigation and policy framework in India: A review

Modelling of methanol production via combined gasification and power to fuel

Electrocatalytic water splitting holds promise for green hydrogen production, but its widespread adoption is challenged by the trade‐off between energy consumption and production costs. Iron‐triad‐based materials are of considerable interest as electrocatalysts due to their unique chemistry and electronic structure, which facilitate moderate intermediate adsorption energies and offer tolerance to site solvation and deactivation. However, the long‐term durability of those electrocatalysts remains poorly understood, hindering advanced progress. This review summarizes the fundamentals of water electrolysis chemistry, the challenges in evaluating the catalytic performance, and advances in modulating the chemistry of iron‐triad active sites for water splitting, with a focus on alkaline water electrolysis, particularly anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE). It also discusses recent developments in iron‐triad electrocatalysts for water electrolysis under acidic conditions. A key emphasis is placed on the structure–activity relationships resulting from tailored iron‐triad active center chemistry. Furthermore, the review explores engineering strategies, such as near‐surface and chemical microenvironment modification to enable self‐healing, reconstruction, and alternative catalytic mechanisms, including the localized oxide path mechanism. Finally, it examines the challenges and future prospects of sustainable hydrogen production, including rational catalyst design, scalable synthesis techniques, and in‐depth physicochemical and electrochemical studies.