Photo electrochemical system for hydrogen accumulation

Experimental photoelectron chemical cell for hydrogen accumulation: hydrogen accumulates on the cathode on the illumination of a semiconductor photoanode. Reactions in the general form that proceed at the electrode: cathode reaction: M + H2O + e- = OH- + MH anode reaction: 2S2- + 2p+ > S22-

Applications

It is envisaged to use the photoelectron chemical system being developed for the production of pure hydrogen as an energy carrier for electricity production with hydrogen fuel cells through a reaction of hydrogen oxidation by atmospheric oxygen and for chemical needs.

Brief description

It is proposed to replace in the photoelectron chemical system the anodic oxygen evolution reaction by oxidation reactions (e.g. of sulfide ions, selenide ions), which makes it possible to use narrow-gap semiconductors as the cathode, and the cathode hydrogen evolution reaction by the reaction of hydrogen accumulation in the bulk of the cathode using metal hydrides (AB₅ and AB₂ inter metallic). The anode and cathode chambers of the electrolytic cell are separated by an ion-exchange membrane.

Expected properties

The use of materials which absorb readily visible light (e.g. a number of A^IIB^VI and A^IIIB^Vcompounds, etc) and have an energy gap width of under 2.7 eV and a modified surface, as a result of which photopotential increases greatly and interfacial recombination decreases, and metal hydride cathodes with hydrogen sorption kinetics optimized to photoanode characteristics will make it possible to convert more efficiently solar energy to chemical hydrogen energy and to build a photoelectrochemical cell and solar modules based on it with an efficiency of conversion of solar energy to chemical hydrogen energy of 9-10% with simultaneous hydrogen accumulation, they will form the basis for the creation of industrial installations for hydrogen production and accumulation.

Advantages

Hydrogen produced in the photoelectron chemical system is very pure and does not require additional purification for use. Moreover, it is cheaper than hydrogen that is produced using solid-state solar cells and an electro lizer because it does not require expensive and high-tech solar cells.

Competitors

MER (Material and Electrochemical Research) Corporation (U.S.),
MV Systems, SRI International (Menlo Park, U.S.),
JJapanese New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO),
Siemens (Germany),
Hydrogenics (Canada),
BP plc, Praxair, Iwatani International (Japan).

State of development

A procedure for the formation of photosensitive (NT)-TiO₂/CdSe^-, (NT)-TiO₂/CdSe_xTe_1-x and
(NT)-TiO₂/Cd_xZn_1-xSe nano heterostructures and their surface modification with nanosized particles (quantum dots) of some metals or semiconductors has been designed. Full-scale tests of an experimental photoelectron chemical cell for hydrogen accumulation have been carried out.

Intellectual property

Patent Ukrainian 75975 “Photoelectro chemical cell for hydrogen accumulation”. G.Ya. Kolbasov, Yu.M. Solonin, I.A. Rusetskii, D.V. Danko; applicants: I.M. Frantsevich Institute of Materials Science Problems of the Ukrainian NAS, V.I. Vernadskii Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Ukrainian NAS ; bulletin no 6, granted 15.06.2006.

Contact information

Executive:
V.I. Vernadskii Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of the Ukrainian NAS,
I.M. Frantsevich Institute of Materials Science Problems of the Ukrainian NAS

Project №18. «Development of efficient photoelectrochemical systems for receiving and storing hydrogen»
Project №22. «Development of hydrogen sorption materials based on metal hydride and their use as hydrogen storage and electrodes for electrochemical systems, energy trend»

Contacting person

Kolbasov Gennady.Ya

Е-mail: kolbasov@ionc.kiev.ua