Solar Hydrogen Production
- Univ. of Colorado, Boulder (United States)
- Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (United States)
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
This panel addressed different methods for the photoassisted dissociation of water into its component parts, hydrogen and oxygen. Systems considered include PV-electrolysis, photoelectrochemical cells, and transition-metal based microheterogeneous and homogeneous systems. While none of the systems for water splitting appear economically viable at the present time, the panel identified areas of basic research that could increase the overall efficiency and decrease the costs. Common to all the areas considered was the underlying belief that the water-to-hydrogen half reaction is reasonably well characterized, while the four-electron oxidation of water-to-oxygen is less well understood and represents a significant energy loss. For electrolysis, research in electrocatalysis to reduce overvoltage losses was identified as a key area for increased efficiency. Non-noble metal catalysts and less expensive components would reduce capital costs. While potentially offering higher efficiencies and lower costs, photoelectrochemical-based direct conversion systems undergo corrosion reactions and often have poor energetics for the water reaction. Research is needed to understand the factors that control the interfacial energetics and the photoinduced corrosion. Multi-photon devices were identified as promising systems for high efficiency conversion.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 273414
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-450-21097; CONF-9602108-; ON: DE96007867; TRN: 96:004421-0019
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Research opportunities in photochemical sciences, Estes Park, CO (United States), 5-8 Feb 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Research opportunities in photochemical sciences; PB: 264 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
A Current Perspective on Photocatalysis
Wide Band Gap Chalcopyrite Photoelectrodes for Direct Water Splitting (Final Technical Report)