Special Topics in Power-to-Chemicals
Technology
 About hydrogen
 Role of H2 in the energy transition
o Enable large scale renewables
integration and power
generation
o Distribute energy across sectors
and regions
o Acts as a buffer to increase
system resilience
Protagonist for Hydrogen Economy
 Prof. John O’Mara Bockris
o Incorrectly predicted that
sending gas through
intercontinental pipelines would
be more cost-effective than
liquefying it and shipping it in
specially made tankers.
o 1982, he predicted that H2
produced in Australia could be
converted into ammonia which
is easier to transport in ships.
 Global Benefits for H2
o Total energy demand
o CO2 reduction
o Annual market value
o Jobs accumulated
 Storage and Utilization
 Commercialized fuel processor system
 PEMPC Fuel Processor Technical Issues
o
 Current research direction
Hydrogen Production
 Steam reforming
o Reforming reaction
o Consists of reforming, shifting
and purification reactions
o Technology possession: BASF,
Lurgi, Uhde, etc.
 Reforming reaction
o Catalyst: Ni/alpha-alumina
o 700oC-1000oC, 20-40 bar
Steam reforming reaction mechanism
Colors of hydrogen
1. Grey Hydrogen
a. Natural gas reforming
b. Co2 released to atmosphere
2. Blue hydrogen
a. Steam methane reforming
b. Co2 capture and storage
3. Green hydrogen
a. Water electrolysis
b. Renewable energy
4. Pink Hydrogen
a. Nuclear power
Green Hydrogen
1. Electrochemical – electricity from
renewable energy sources
2. Photo-electrochemical – solar energy +
electricity from renewable energy
sources (PEC)
3. Solar – solar cell driven water
electrolysis; small difference from
photo-electrolysis
4. Thermoelectric – infrared light to
electrical energy
5. Triboelectric – mechanical to electrical
energy; similar to Piezzo-electric
6. Pyroelectric – temperature fluctuation
to energy
Overpotentials
 Thermodynamic voltage required to
split a water molecule at ambient
conditions (1 atm, 298 K) is 1.23 V.
 This is also the voltage for a negligible
current density and therefore not the
appropriate voltage for an industrial
application.
 The required extra energy is generally
expressed in terms of overpotential, i.e.
the extra voltage above 1.23 V for the
electrolytic cell to produce H2.
 Depends on the cell design and
operating conditions
 Activation overpotential – related to the
electron transfer between the
electrolyte and each electrode
  Resistance overpotential – related to
the electron transfer between
electrodes
 Concentration overpotential – related to
the ion transfer within the electrolyte
mainly through concentration; mass
transfer
Challenges and Approaches
 Electrode
o Expensive PGM electrodes
o Low activity and stability
o Development of low-cost, active
and stable electrodes
 Electrolyte
o Highly alkaline/acidic
o Resistance
o Corrosive/impractical
o Utilization of Neutral
Electrolytes
 Reactions
o Sluggish kinetics
o High Energy requirement
o Improving reaction kinetics
 Cell Design
o High resistance due to distance
between electrodes
o Difficulty in bubble removal
o Improved cell architecture
Types of Water Electrolyzers
 Alkaline Electrolyzer
 AEM Electrolyzer
o Anion exchange membrane
 PEM – acidic electrolyte
o PMWE
 Solid Oxide
o High stability
Components of Water Electrolyzers at different
levels
 Electrodes
 Electrolyte
 Gas diffusion layers
 Membranes/Separators
 Cell
 Stack – individual cells connected in
series to form a stack
Electrodes
 Anode: Oxygen Evolution Reaction
(OER)
 Cathode: Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
(HER)
Requirements for Electrocatalysts
 Highly active surface
 High electrical conductivity
 Chemical and mechanical stability
 Noble metals, transition metal oxides,
transition metal chalcogenides and
pnictides, carbon materials
Membrane
 Polymer – both anodic and cathodic
reaction under acidic environment
o Sluggish OER
o Expensive
 AEMWE- anodic + cathodic in basic
environment
o Sluggish HER
o Slow OH- movement
 BPMWE – Advantages of both P and A
o OH- migrate through AEM
o H+ migrate through PEM
Membrane electrode assembly (MEA)
Current Status & Outlooks
 Industrial scale anion exchange water
electrolyzer
 World’s first >500 kW single stack water
electrolyzer based on AEM
 Non-PGM materials: Eliminates supply
chain risk