Development Of Hydrogen Energy Research Articles

Core-Shell NiO/C@NiFe-LDH Nanocomposite as an Efficient Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Evolution Reaction

Highly efficient and low-cost oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalysts have been urgently needed for the development of renewable hydrogen energy via water electrolysis. Herein, a core-shell NiO nanoparticles decorated carbon sphere (NiO/C) and NiFe-layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH) nanocomposite (NiO/C@NiFe-LDH) was prepared by a calcination-hydrothermal synthesis approach. In this nanocomposite, NiO/C as the core were derived from Ni based metal organic frameworks (Ni-MOFs), which not only provide a porous and conductive carbon support for NiFe-LDH nanosheets to expose active sites, but also offer a synergistic active site for NiFe-LDH nanosheets. The structure and morphology of NiO/C@NiFe-LDH were mainly characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and nitrogen adsorption-desorption test. The OER catalytic activity of NiO/C@NiFe-LDH was optimized by adjusting the ratio between NiO/C and NiFe-LDH and adding bridging agents. Under the optimum conditions, the overpotential at 10 mA cm−2 for NiO/C@NiFe-LDHs is only 299 mV(vs RHE), lower than that of commercial RuO2 (330 mV). Besides, the NiO/C@NiFe-LDH exhibits a good stability in 10-hour testing. These results show that the ingenious combination of different OER catalysts may be an effective strategy to prepare low-cost OER catalysts with good performance.

Cobalt doping of FePS3 promotes intrinsic active sites for the efficient hydrogen evolution reaction.

Exploring Earth-abundant electrocatalysts to achieve the efficient hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is important for the development of clean and renewable hydrogen energy. Herein, we focus on a representative transition metal phosphosulfide electrocatalyst FePS3. Enlightened by our theoretical calculations that Co dopants improve H affinity on P sites and electrical conductivity, we prepared a series of Fe1-xCoxPS3 (x = 0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, 0.25) compounds and characterized them by XRD, ICP, XPS, Raman, SEM, TEM, EDS, and resistivity and electrochemical measurement. It is found that the overpotential can be reduced by 166 mV, and the Tafel slope drops from 170 mV dec-1 to 80 mV dec-1. This work provides new insights to optimize the electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution activity of related transition metal phosphosulfides.

Surface selectivity of Ni3S2 toward hydrogen evolution reaction: a first-principles study.

Exploring materials with high catalytic performance toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is of importance for the development of clean hydrogen energy, and their surface structure is essential for this function. In this study, using density functional theory (DFT), we reported a comprehensive study on the phase stability, surface structures, electronic properties and HER catalytic properties of the low-index surfaces of Ni3S2, including the (0001), (101[combining macron]0), (101[combining macron]1), (112[combining macron]0) and (112[combining macron]1) planes with different terminations. Our calculated results demonstrate that S-rich surfaces and several stoichiometric surfaces of Ni3S2 are thermodynamically stable, including (0001)A, (101[combining macron]0)A, (112[combining macron]0)C, (101[combining macron]0)C, (101[combining macron]0)B and (112[combining macron]1)A surfaces. Among the six stable surface structures, the (0001)A, (101[combining macron]0)B and (101[combining macron]0)C surfaces of Ni3S2 are indispensable for high HER performance because of their high catalytic activity, suitable potential and high thermodynamic stability. The calculated changes of Gibbs free energy (ΔGH*) of the Top S2 site on (0001)A, Hollow Ni2S3S4 site on (101[combining macron]0)C, and Bridge Ni1Ni3 site and Hollow Ni2S1S2 site on (101[combining macron]0)B are -0.143, 0.122, 0.012, and -0.112 eV, respectively, comparable with or even better than those of Pt(111) (-0.07 eV). In addition, the possible Volmer-Heyrovsky and Volmer-Tafel processes on the considered surfaces are also investigated. When the overpotential is in the range of 0 to 300 mV, the density of active sites on the (101[combining macron]0)B surface of Ni3S2 is found to be the highest. This work provides significant insights on the surface selectivity of Ni3S2 toward HER and provides a route to optimize the performance of Ni3S2 with exposed surfaces.

Challenges and Policy Suggestions on the Development of Hydrogen Economy in China

In recent years, with the intensification of environmental damage, mankind is at a crossroads towards the next energy revolution. Hydrogen energy, because of its pollution-free nature, has become the focus of technological research and development in many countries, and the economic pattern around it is taking shape China’s investment in the field of new energy has been increasing in recent years, and the prospect of hydrogen economy has prompted China to continuously increase the development of hydrogen energy. However, it faces many obstacles, both technical and social. The Chinese government is now using financial subsidies to help hydrogen companies incubate. However, with the development of the industry, China is currently facing great obstacles in large-scale commercial application, intellectual property protection and innovation, standardization construction and social confidence. This paper believes that policy measures such as selective commercial distribution, innovation system building, industry standardization construction and social education can be adopted to help solve these challenges

Hydrogen Energy: a New Dimension for the Energy Cooperation in the Northeast Asian Region

The Northeast Asian Region is a home for the major world’s energy importers and Russia – the top energy exporter. Due to the depletion of national fossil energy resources, the industrialised East Asian economies are facing serious energy security issues. The snapshot of the intraregional energy trade in 2019 was analysed in terms of development potential. Japan, Korea and China are at the frontline of hydrogen energy technologies commercialisation and hydrogen energy infrastructure development. The drivers for such endeavours are listed and national institutions for hydrogen energy development are characterised. The priorities related to regional cooperation on hydrogen energy in Northeast Asia were derived on the basis of hydrogen production cost estimations. These priorities include steady development of international natural gas and power infrastructure. The shared process will lead to the synergy of regional fossil and renewable resources within combined power and hydrogen infrastructure.

A perspective on hydrogen energy research, development and innovation activities in Turkey

A perspective on hydrogen energy research, development and innovation activities in Turkey

Hydrogen station location optimization based on multiple data sources

A hydrogen station is one that fills or stores the hydrogen, which is critical to the commercial development of hydrogen energy and fuel cell vehicle industry. Therefore, its location planning becomes an important issue. Similar to the electric vehicle (EV) charging station's planning, several factors are considered including the location, the demand of the fuel, the driving distance, etc. In this paper, multiple data sources are applied to the site selection model, including the existing petrol-refueling station network data, geographic information system (GIS) data, population data and regional economic data. Based on the operation of the genetic algorithm, combined with the idea of the greedy algorithm and the annealing algorithm, we propose a multi-algorithm hybrid solution, which not only can avoid local optimal, but also can converge quickly. On the basis of the site selection scheme of the hydrogen station in California, we have optimized the location scheme in Beijing. Finally, we present the feasibility proposals for hydrogen station location in Beijing, including the appropriate number of hydrogen stations in different regions, the reasonable coverage distance of hydrogen stations, etc. Due to the huge development prospects for hydrogen energy and the urgent need to reduce the construction cost of hydrogen stations in China, this research can quickly optimize the location of the hydrogen station and further explore potential mathematical relationships, which has certain social significance and economic benefits.

NiSx@MoS2 heterostructure prepared by atomic layer deposition as high-performance hydrogen evolution reaction electrocatalysts in alkaline media

Abstract

High photoresponse and fast carrier mobility: Two‐dimensional rGO‐AgBr/Ag composite based on Z‐scheme heterointerface with plasma for hydrogen evolution

With the improvement of people's living standard, energy shortage is increasingly severe. Photocatalysis technology is one of the most effective means to solve this problem. Generally, poor visible-light response and fast combination of photo-induced carriers are the main limiting factors to traditional photocatalysts. Aiming at this problem, in this paper, AgBr was used as the photosensitizer to immobilize on the surface of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the complexation of Ag+ ions and carboxyl groups of precursor graphene oxide (GO), then the two-dimensional rGO-AgBr/Ag composites (2D rGAA-α, α = 1, 2 and 3) were synthesized by solvothermal method. The structures, morphologies, chemical bonding states and photoelectrochemical properties of the samples were analyzed to study the samples, and the corresponding visible-light-driven (VLD) catalytic performances were studied by hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Compared with pure rGO, the light absorption of rGAA-α was almost extended to full spectral range for the Z-scheme heterointerface (rGO-AgBr) construction, and the separation of photo-induced carriers can be promoted effectively. The HER results showed that the average hydrogen evolution rate ( ) of rGAA-α was significantly increased, and the rGAA-2 catalyst presented the highest (72.71 μmol h-1g-1). After six recycling experiments, the very faint activity decrease and unobvious structure change suggested the high photostability. Accordingly, the enhanced catalytic activity of rGAA-α catalysts was attributed to the formation of Z-scheme heterointerface and generation of Ag plasmas, so this study will provide a simple, effective and promising method for hydrogen energy development.

From resinous wood distillation to hydrogen energy (questions of the history of pyrogenation)

Substantial contribution to development of electrical engineering was made in the 19th century. Indeed, in the early 19th century centralized gas lighting systems were established first in England, and then in the rest of Europe and North America, and then it was switched to electric lighting by 1880s. Before electricity became widespread and suitable for general public use, gas was the most popular method of indoor and outdoor lighting in cities. The article is devoted to the history of development of thermochemical technologies for the decomposition of wood and other carbon-containing materials (coal, oil, shale, peat) in order to obtain heat and related valuable products for various purposes. Special attention is paid to the development of gasification technologies of low-quality solid fuels; featuring periods of increasing demand for similar technologies and periods of a sharp decline. As a result of the analysis of world experience in the field of gasification technologies, it is shown that, generator gas theoretically can be used for energy purposes, for example to drive automobiles or internal combustion engines, to be the fuel of CHP plants of different capacity, as well as to be included into the schemes with fuel cells for the development of hydrogen energy.

Using the copper-foam for thermal conductivity improvement of La0.9Ce0.1Ni5-alloy bed during interaction with hydrogen

One of the main obstacles to the development of hydrogen energy is the problem of heat transfer inside metal hydride beds. Thus, the problem of increasing the metal hydride beds thermal conductivity is of great interest. This study is devoted to the investigation of the hydrogen sorption properties of an intermetallic compound placed in a matrix of foam material. Copper-foam with mass of 8 g was chosen as a matrix for 50 g of powder of activated AB5-type alloy with composition of La0.9Ce0.1Ni5. PCT-isotherms of hydrogen absorption and desorption were measured at temperatures 313, 333 and 353 K. Also, the dynamics of temperature change in the sample was studied when it was heated under vacuum conditions. The obtained data were compared with the results of previous studies conducted under the same conditions for samples of pure alloy and a mixture of alloy with copper powder. It has been concluded that the use of copper-foam to improve the thermal conductivity is promising, but it is necessary to take into account its influence on the hydrogen sorption properties of metal hydrides.

(TiO2(B) Nanosheet)/(Metallic Phase MoS2) Hybrid Nanostructures: An Efficient Catalyst for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Developing photocatalysts that can efficiently produce hydrogen from water under solar irradiation is highly desired for sustainable and clean hydrogen energy. Herein, it is demonstrated that (TiO2(B) nanosheet)/(metallic phase MoS2) hybrid nanostructures have high activity for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution from water. The TiO2(B) nanosheets are prepared by solvothermal reaction with TiCl3 as a precursor in the presence of ethylene glycol. Due to the short transportation distance of charge carriers, more negative conduction band edge, and the existence of oxygen vacancy, the photocatalytic activity of the pure TiO2(B) nanosheets is one order of the magnitude larger than that of the commercial P25. After loading metallic phase MoS2, the photocatalytic activity of TiO2(B) is further improved by ≈13 times to 1444 μmol g−1 h−1 because of the superior activity of metallic phase MoS2 for hydrogen evolution. The findings provide a cost‐effective and highly active photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water and are very helpful for the development of sustainable and clean hydrogen energy.

A new type of double dispersion system for water control in fossil hydrogen energy development

Water cut is generally rising with the increase of water injection during water flooding development of fossil hydrogen energy reservoir. Conventional chemical profile control agents fail to work for a long time because they are easily affected by the temperature and salinity of fossil hydrogen energy reservoir to form crossflow channel. In this paper, a new dual-disperse profile control agent and flooding system (DDS) is proposed, which uses polymers and microspheres to plug polymer crossflow and improve oil recovery in fossil hydrogen energy development. The viscosity, suspension property, thermal stability and microsphere size expansion of the DDS are tested, and the oil displacement performance is evaluated. The results show that the viscosity of polymer solution is not affected by the addition of microspheres, and the DDS system has good suspension and thermal stability. Due to the adsorption of microspheres in polymers, the particle size of microspheres tends to increase with time. But the expansion slows down gradually, which is beneficial to deep migration. In terms of plugging efficiency, the optimum concentration of DDS is 1500 mg/L polymer and 500 mg/L microsphere, and the optimum injection volume is 0.5Pv. Compared with single polymer flooding system, the new dual dispersion system has better washing resistance and enhanced oil recovery in fossil hydrogen energy development.

Hydrogen technologies and developments in Japan

Abstract The successful development of hydrogen-energy technologies has several advantages and benefits. Hydrogen-energy development could prevent global warming as well as ensure energy security for countries without adequate energy resources. The successful development of hydrogen would provide energy for transportation and electric power. It is a unique energy carrier, as it can be produced from various energy sources such as wind, fossil fuels and biomass and, when it is combusted, it emits no CO2 emissions. The other advantage is the wide distribution of resources globally that can be used to produce hydrogen. In Japan, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) published a ‘Strategic Roadmap for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells’ in 2014, with a revised update published in March 2016. The goal of the roadmap is to achieve a hydrogen society. The roadmap aims to resolve technical problems and secure economic efficiency. The roadmap has been organized into the following three phases: Phase 1—Installation of fuel cells; Phase 2—Hydrogen power plant/mass supply chain; Phase 3—CO2-free hydrogen. This paper reports on the current status of fuel cells and fuel-cell vehicles in Japan and gives a description and status of the R&D programmes along with the results of global energy model study towards 2050.

The effect of completion strategy on fracture propagation from multiple cluster perforations in fossil hydrogen energy development

The hydraulic fracturing is extensively used to stimulate the production of fossil hydrogen energy. Perforation parameters have a great influence on the performance of hydraulically fractured horizontal wells in fossil hydrogen energy development. In this work, a practical model to study the effect of a completion scheme on simultaneous fracture propagation is proposed, in which the coupling fluid flow and stress interaction is considered, and a fracture propagation uniform index model is used to optimize the completion strategy. Moreover, this model is well validated by Wu's model and Zhang's model. The numerical study results indicate that a uniform completion scheme causes a non-uniform fracture development; an optimal completion method is proposed by reducing the cluster number, non-uniform spacing, and practical limited entry technique in a fracturing stage. Furthermore, the combined use of unequal cluster spacing and a limited entry strategy can significantly reduce the suppression effects between multiple clusters, improve the fluid flow into each cluster, and enhance the uniform propagation to achieve the maximum production. Our present work illustrates a better understanding of the effect of the completion strategy on the multiple fracture propagation, and paves a path for a more optimal completion design for fossil hydrogen energy development.

Developing Trend and Present Status of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Development

Developing Trend and Present Status of Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Development

An iron-doped cobalt phosphide nano-electrocatalyst derived from a metal-organic framework for efficient water splitting.

The development of hydrogen energy relies to a large extent on the electrocatalysts that are highly efficient and widely sourced. Although transition metal phosphides (TMPs) have made great achievements in reducing the overpotential of hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), improving oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance that is relatively lagging in view of relatively large overpotentials and high kinetics energy barriers is yet to be achieved. Herein, we propose an extremely convenient and practical approach to prepare iron-doped cobalt phosphide nanoparticles (Fe-CoxP NPs) via a one-step method by introducing an iron element in the in situ synthesis of a metal-organic framework (ZIF-67) and then subjecting to a phosphate treatment. The as-obtained Fe-CoxP showed an excellent OER and acceptable HER activities. In particular, for OER, the optimized Fe-doped CoxP (Fe0.27Co0.73P) exhibits an ultra-low overpotential of 251 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2, a negligible electrocatalytic degradation after 3000 CV cycles, and time over 40 h-reliant current density stability. When employed as cathode and anode electrodes in water splitting, the current density of 10 mA cm-2 can be achieved at a potential of 1.68 V. Our facile synthetic strategy and innovative ideas are undoubtedly beneficial to the design and construction of advanced water-splitting electrocatalysts.

Modeling of amorphous phase formation and its thermodynamic behaviour in Ce[sbnd]Mg[sbnd]H, Ce[sbnd]Ni[sbnd]H and Mg[sbnd]Ni[sbnd

As a hydrogen storage material, ReMg (Re = Rear Earth metal) alloys hold great promises for sustainable hydrogen energy development. In this work, we aim to explore the reaction route and thermodynamic conditions for Ce/Mg-based alloys with good hydriding property. Using the extended Miedema model, the formation enthalpies of CeH, MgH and NiH single metal hydrides were calculated. Based on the potential of hydrogen and metal, the enthalpy of elastic contribution between metal and hydrogen was considered to yield a more rational estimation of the formation enthalpy. Similar method was adopted to estimate the solid-solution enthalpies and amorphous formation enthalpies of CeMgH, CeNiH and MgNiH hydrides, on which the maximum hydrogen bonding capacities of these three hydrides were induced. These thermodynamic enthalpies of binary and ternary systems obtained in this study exhibit good consistency with the relevant experimental data reported in peer studies. In addition, the effect of varying the concentrations of Ce, Mg and Ni on the enthalpy of hydride formation was simulated. The amorphous forming composition ranges (AFCR) CeMgH, CeNiH and MgNiH hydrides were established and sub-divided into the spontaneous, easy and the hard forming zones. The result of this study may serve as a useful reference for the research and fabrication of the corresponding hydrides.

Ni3Fe nanoarray encapsulated in Co, N-dual doped carbon shell for efficient electrocatalytic oxygen evolution in both alkaline and carbonate electrolyte

Exploring of efficient electrocatalysts based on nonprecious metals is of great importance for the development of hydrogen energy and related energy conversion technologies. Metallic Ni3Fe nanoarray is firstly fabricated on carbon cloth as efficient oxygen evolution electrocatalyst. Co, N-dual doped carbon shell derived from metal organic framework is coated on the Ni3Fe nanoarray to enhance electrocatalytic activity and stability. The as-prepared composite catalyst only needs a low overpotential of 170 mV to drive 10 mA cm−2 current density in alkaline solution, and an overpotential of 370 mV in carbonate buffer solution. Moreover, the catalyst exhibit excellent durability in both alkaline and carbonate electrolyte. Good conductivity, rich active sites, fast electron transport process and synergistic effect between Ni3Fe and the doped carbon together contributes to the efficient catalytic performance. This synthesis approach provides a new way to develop efficient nonprecious metal based electrocatalysts for water oxidation and other energy-related applications.

A new experimental simulation method for the development of non-renewable hydrogen energy—Oil and gas resources

At present, the proportion of tight oil in non-renewable hydrogen energy is increasing. According to an initial exploration and attemptable practice on the exploration of tight oil, it is found that the cost can be controlled effectively and positive effects are achieved. But this technique cannot make sure the proppants filled uniformly in the long fracture. Several researches on the proppants migration experiment devices and factors influencing on proppant setting are reviewed and a new set of experimental device to simulate the laws of proppants setting in long fracture is developed. This device can simulate the main factors influencing proppants setting performance. It analyzes several factors such as wall filtration, construction displacement, sand concentration, proppant size and density, viscosity of fracturing fluid is used to rank the influencing degree of every factor. Considering the effects of mutual interference between proppants, width of fracture, rough fracture surface and fracture surface filtration during the proppants setting progress, the mathematical model of proppant setting is modified by adding sand concentration correction factor, wall effect correction factor and filtration correction factor. The experimental data verify the accuracy of the settlement model is established using the data getting from experiment.