Advanced concepts for electrolytic hydrogen production

Conference · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1982

OSTI ID:6670706

McBreen, J; Yang, C Y

Research work at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) in the areas of high temperature steam electrolysis in a solid oxide electrolyte electrolyzer at about 1000/sup 0/C and electrolysis using anode depolarizers is discussed. Much of the work at BNL has been devoted to developing electrochemical techniques for investigating electrode reactions. This year electrochemical techniques were developed for study of the initial stages of oxidation of metals at high temperatures. Techniques were also developed to carry out surface science studies at the solid oxide electrolyte interface under conditions simulating in situ water electrolysis. Coal has been proposed as an anode depolarizer; however, the results in this area are very contradictory. Work at BNL focused on resolving these discrepancies and on finding simple chemical treatments to enhance the anode depolarization of coal. The results so far have confirmed that much of the anode depolarization activity of coal is due to iron impurities. However, coal can be oxidized electrochemically at a low rate. This rate can be increased by comminution of the coal. Considerable enhancement of the anode depolarization activity can be achieved by simple alkali hydrolysis treatments or treatment with molten zinc chloride.

• Research Organization: Brookhaven National Lab., Upton, NY (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• OSTI ID: 6670706
• Report Number(s): BNL-31961; CONF-820827-30; ON: DE83002826
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080101* -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis
ANODES
CATALYSTS
DEPOLARIZATION
ELECTROCATALYSTS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
LYSIS