Opportunities and challenges of hydrogen production with decoupled water electrolysis

doi:10.19799/j.cnki.2095-4239.2020.0271

Abstract

Abstract:

Exploiting decoupled water is a novel strategy for hydrogen production that can detach the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) with the presence of electron coupled proton buffer medias (ECPBs). During this process, water electrolysis is split into two separate processes, HER and OER, that can proceed at different times and/or in different places. This decoupling strategy can effectively solve the potential hazard of the membrane being permeable to both hydrogen and oxygen, compared with traditional water electrolysis, as well as providing alternatives to storage and transportation of hydrogen. In this paper, recent developments of decoupled water electrolysis were reviewed. The principles of the electrolyser's structure and features of different ECPBs were introduced in detail. Based on the states of the ECPBs and the electrolytes concerned, the parameters of various ECPBs in an acidic electrolyte and an alkaline electrolyte, respectively, were listed. By comparing the advantages and disadvantages of present ECPBs' performance, the prospects and challenges faced by hydrogen production with decoupled water electrolysis were illustrated.

Key words: hydrogen production with decoupled water electrolysis, decoupled water exploiting, electron coupled proton buffer medias, redox medias

CLC Number:

TQ 028.8

Xiuli SU, Wenjun LIAO, Yan LI. Opportunities and challenges of hydrogen production with decoupled water electrolysis[J]. Energy Storage Science and Technology, 2021, 10(1): 87-95.

Figures/Tables 2

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