TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards hydrogen production using a breathable electrode structure to directly separate gases in the water splitting reaction
AU - Winther-Jensen, Orawan
AU - Chatjaroenporn, Khwanrat
AU - Winther Jensen, Bjorn
AU - MacFarlane, Douglas R.
PY - 2012/5
Y1 - 2012/5
N2 - A novel electrode design to directly separate the gases and improve the efficiency of the water splitting reaction is described. In this work, platinum was used as a model catalyst, deposited on porous membranes with different pore size and shape. The O 2 evolution rate was monitored at the gaseous side of these breathable electrodes. We show that the hydrophobic Goretex ® membrane electrodes provide a highly efficient removal of the gases, breathing out 92% of expected O 2 during water splitting, and thereby also largely avoiding the well known migration of oxygen to the cathode in the absence of a separator in the cell. The breathable structure is also shown to operate as a hydrogen electrode. The ability to separate the two gases, without the need for a separator, decreases gas cross-over and thereby enhances the coloumbic efficiency. Merging this approach with catalysts and photocatalysts of a variety of types e.g. non-precious metal and metal oxides will allow fabrication of cost efficient and straightforward water splitting devices.
AB - A novel electrode design to directly separate the gases and improve the efficiency of the water splitting reaction is described. In this work, platinum was used as a model catalyst, deposited on porous membranes with different pore size and shape. The O 2 evolution rate was monitored at the gaseous side of these breathable electrodes. We show that the hydrophobic Goretex ® membrane electrodes provide a highly efficient removal of the gases, breathing out 92% of expected O 2 during water splitting, and thereby also largely avoiding the well known migration of oxygen to the cathode in the absence of a separator in the cell. The breathable structure is also shown to operate as a hydrogen electrode. The ability to separate the two gases, without the need for a separator, decreases gas cross-over and thereby enhances the coloumbic efficiency. Merging this approach with catalysts and photocatalysts of a variety of types e.g. non-precious metal and metal oxides will allow fabrication of cost efficient and straightforward water splitting devices.
KW - Breathable electrodes
KW - Gas separation
KW - Hydrogen production
KW - Water oxidation
KW - Water splitting
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.02.094
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.02.094
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84860362438
VL - 37
SP - 8185
EP - 8189
JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
SN - 0360-3199
IS - 10
ER -