Hydrogen Iodide Energy Cycle to Repeat Solar Hydrogen Generation and Battery Power Generation Using Single‐Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract

Herein, a new energy cycle called the “hydrogen iodide (HI) cycle” is proposed that involves the repeated generation of solar hydrogen and battery power. Solar hydrogen generation using an HI solution allows for the use of a narrow‐bandgap photocatalyst. It is demonstrated that the addition of single‐walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) effectively enhances solar hydrogen generation from HI solution with methylammonium lead iodide. Electron microscopy observations and spectroscopic experiments reveal that SWCNTs improve hydrogen generation by adsorbing byproduct iodine molecules. Additionally, a zinc‐iodine battery, utilizing paper I@SWCNTs recovered from the photocatalyst test cell and zinc metal, operates efficiently with an initial cell voltage of approximately 1.2 V. The battery's capacity, corresponding to the amount of encapsulated iodine molecules, indicates that SWCNTs can effectively adsorb the byproduct iodine molecules within the photocatalyst test cell. It is also discussed that the electrolyte solution after the discharge experiment should include iodide ions, indicating that the solution after battery discharge returns to the starting point of the “HI cycle.” Raman measurements reveal that I@SWCNTs are transformed back into empty tubes during the discharge experiment. Therefore, SWCNTs can be repeatedly used in the new cyclic energy scheme referred to as the “HI cycle.”