Renewable H2 Production (Photocatalytic method)

Tariq Kareemulla 20-11-2013

H2 Resources & Production methods

1

• 95% H2 needs are covered for with non-renewable sources

• Alternative ways could be used to generate H2 (e.g. water electrolysis, biological photosynthesis or photo-catalysis)

Overview

2

SCHEMATIC: The photocatalytic hydrogen production set up

3

•

•

•

Equations

Where,ΔE = Cell voltage of Fuel Cell(V)Uocv = Open-circuit voltage (V)ηact = activation overpotential(V)ηconc = concentration overpotential(V)R = Ohmic Resistance(Ω)I= Fuel Cell current (A)

4

Polarization Curves

H2 consumption rate:Where,qm = molar hydrogen consumption rate by the fuel cell (mol/s)I = Current at peak power(A)n = no. of exchange electrons (n=2 for Hydrogen)F = Faraday Constant (96500 C/mol)

5

Polarization Curves(contd.)

Photo-catalytic activity for H2 production :Methanol > ethanol > 2-propanol

6

Conclusion

• It is possible to directly combine photo-catalytic H2

production with fuel cell paving the way to new alternative energy sources.

• Comparative analysis indicates that : H2 production efficiency and the maximum current

for the PEM fuel cell ranges as: methanol > ethanol > 2-propanol

• Best results obtained for methanol dehydrogenation with 1 wt% Pt photodeposition

7

References

[1] Photocatalytic hydrogen production for PEMFC supply: A new issue- J. Rodriguez , P.-X. Thivel, E. Puzenat

[2] Solar photocatalytic reactor performance for hydrogen production from incident ultraviolet radiation

- E. Oralli, I. Dincer, G.F. Naterer

[3] Sustainable hydrogen production options and the role of IAHE - Ibrahim Dincer, Calin Zamfirescu

[4] Evonik Industries: AEROSIL®

[5] Sigma-Aldrich: Hydrogen hexachloroplatinate(IV) solution ~8% in H2O

THANK YOU