Production Of Hydrogen Fuels Research Articles

Blockchain-Enhanced Hydrogen Fuel Production and Distribution for Sustainable Energy Management

Renewable energy projects, particularly wind and solar farms, have garnered significant attention as a potential solution to global energy challenges. Despite the energy production obstacles, the steady availability of fossil fuels continues to compete due to established distribution systems, as societies increasingly rely on electricity. Hydrogen fuel emerges as a promising avenue for energy production, storage, and distribution, involving converting surplus renewable electricity into hydrogen through electrolysis, storing it, and distributing it. Our novel approach leverages blockchain technology to enhance the efficiency and traceability of hydrogen fuel production, offering a unique synergy of transparency, security, and decentralized governance. We showcase its viability and effectiveness using the ERC-1155 token standard to tokenize renewable resources and convert them into hydrogen fuel. Within our tokenized fuel blockchain architecture, we simulate the forecasted growth in hydrogen production and vehicle demand, highlighting our approach's efficiency, traceability, and transparency. This integration showcases the potential for a sustainable hydrogen fuel ecosystem. The gas consumption data analysis indicates that the daily gas consumption remains below 194 million Gas for refilling 3245 vehicles (including the cost of one-time contract deployment), demonstrating the feasibility and efficiency of our approach.

Solar Driven Organic Rankine Cycle System and Hydrogen Fuel Production with Waste Heat Recovery

Solar Driven Organic Rankine Cycle System and Hydrogen Fuel Production with Waste Heat Recovery

Emerging n-p-n Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoFe2O4/rGO S-scheme heterojunction for synergistically improved photocatalytic H2 production

In photocatalytic hydrogen evolution, which is an encouraging way for the sustainable production of hydrogen fuels, the design of S-scheme photocatalysts is conceded as an efficacious technique by promoting the light absorption capacity, providing easy separation of photocarriers and powerful redox talent. Here, we designed and fabricated n-p-n Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoFe2O4/rGO heterojunction nanocomposite for the photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. The n-p-n Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoFe2O4/rGO S-scheme heterostructure supplies a photocatalytic hydrogen generation yield of 133.5 μmol g−1 h−1, which is about 78.53, 34.50 and 8.09 times greater than that of CoFe2O4, rGO and Mn0.2Cd0.8S, sequentially. The boosted photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency is ascribed to S-scheme charge separation in the Mn0.2Cd0.8S/CoFe2O4/rGO heterostructure, which enables influential separation of photocarriers and obstruction of recombination. This study targets to provision new viewpoints on the production of bimetallic sulfide-based photocatalysts via superb photocatalytic performance, and steadiness for hydrogen evolution applications.

In situ insight into the low-temperature promotion of ZIF-67 in electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction

An efficient electrocatalyst is crucial for sustainable hydrogen-fuel production, where cobalt oxyhydroxide is one of the most active catalysts for alkaline water splitting. Here, we designed a series of Co-based catalysts fabricated by direct low-temperature calcination of ZIF-67 for electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Interestingly, the treatment of the pristine ZIF-67 by the temperature of only 200 °C was found to induce the most electroactive composition with a high electrochemically active surface of 373.5 cm2 and turnover frequency of 129.7 s−1, while a high specific surface area (1745 m2·g−1) is preserved. It resulted in a robust catalyst with a low overpotential of 317.8 mV at 10 mA·cm−2 and accelerated charge transfer, leading to improved performances in electrochemical energy conversion from water. Moreover, using in situ spectroscopy, XRD and microscopic techniques the active intermediates, for example, M-O, M-OH, and M-OOH were revealed and thus the exact mechanism of the reaction was proposed. Due to the formation of active species a lattice oxygen mechanism (LOM) was revealed.

Renewable Energy Pathways toward Accelerating Hydrogen Fuel Production: Evidence from Global Hydrogen Modeling

Fossil fuel consumption has triggered worries about energy security and climate change; this has promoted hydrogen as a viable option to aid in decarbonizing global energy systems. Hydrogen could substitute for fossil fuels in the future due to the economic, political, and environmental concerns related to energy production using fossil fuels. However, currently, the majority of hydrogen is produced using fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, which is not a renewable source of energy. It is therefore crucial to increase the efforts to produce hydrogen from renewable sources, rather from the existing fossil-based approaches. Thus, this study investigates how renewable energy can accelerate the production of hydrogen fuel in the future under three hydrogen economy-related energy regimes, including nuclear restrictions, hydrogen, and city gas blending, and in the scenarios which consider the geographic distribution of carbon reduction targets. A random effects regression model has been utilized, employing panel data from a global energy system which optimizes for cost and carbon targets. The results of this study demonstrate that an increase in renewable energy sources has the potential to significantly accelerate the growth of future hydrogen production under all the considered policy regimes. The policy implications of this paper suggest that promoting renewable energy investments in line with a fairer allocation of carbon reduction efforts will help to ensure a future hydrogen economy which engenders a sustainable, low carbon society.

Recent Advances in Efficient Nanostructured Photocatalysts for Hydrogen Fuel Production: A Short Review

Various techniques developed to produce the H2 gas, photocatalytic H2 generation from water splitting is found to be clean and green technology which is in line with the global environment and energy suitability. It involves separation of charge, migration of charge, and chemical reaction on the surface. Various kinds of photocatalysts are used which are made of metal oxides, metal chalcogenides, and graphene-based nanocomposites. This review describes the development of various photocatalysts, such as TiO2, ZnO, MoS2, and their composites. The three-way nitrogen-doped carbon tube covered MoS2 TNCT@MoS2 was reported to be a more efficient photocatalyst. SEM images, XRD results, and diffraction patterns of the above composites were described to correlate with the photocatalytic property. The production of hydrogen using TNCT@MoS2 was found to be much more productive than usual MoS2. In addition to metal oxide and sulfide, the review also covers the photocatalytic behavior of graphene, and S/Se based metal chalcogenide-based compounds and composites (MCCs) were also discussed. The structural features of all these important photocatalysts using XRD, SEM, EDX, and UV-V is techniques were revealed. Finally, the photocatalytic H2 generation efficiency, possible mechanism of all these catalysts, was compared. In summary, we have reviewed the photocatalytic hydrogen production efficiency of metal oxides, metal chalcogenides, and graphene-based nanocomposites.

Engineering 2D NiO/Ni3S2 heterointerface electrocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen production coupled with benzyl alcohol oxidation

• CC@NiO/Ni 3 S 2 was efficiently developed by a facile one-step electrodeposition. • NiO/Ni 3 S 2 interfaces induce the charge redistribution to enhance catalytic activity. • CC@NiO/Ni 3 S 2 shows a bifunctional catalytic activity for HER and Ph-CH 2 OH oxidation. • A two-electrode electrolyzer with an electrical energy saving of 10.0 % is constructed. Coupling electrocatalytic water splitting (EWS) with benzyl alcohol (Ph-CH 2 OH) oxidation can efficiently suppress the sluggish water oxidation and boost hydrogen production efficiency. However, it remains an enormous challenge to design the corresponding bifunctional electrocatalysts with high activity, high selectivity, and long-term stability. Herein, 2D Ni-based nanoarrays grown directly on carbon cloth (CC) substrate (CC@NiO/Ni 3 S 2 ) were synthesized using a facile one-step electrodeposition technique. The CC@NiO/Ni 3 S 2 consists of ultrathin nanosheets (∼3.4 nm) with rich NiO/Ni 3 S 2 heterointerfaces, which not only efficiently exposes more active sites and accelerates mass/charge diffusion, but also provides unique interfacial interactions for charge redistribution to activate the formation of key reaction intermediates. As a result, the CC@NiO/Ni 3 S 2 exhibits a low overpotential of 91 mV at 10 mA cm −2 with high catalytic stability for catalyzing hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). When the Ph-CH 2 OH oxidation is chosen as the corresponding anodic half-reaction instead of water oxidation, the CC@NiO/Ni 3 S 2 also shows an excellent catalytic activity as well as a high selectivity (over 98%) towards benzoic acid (Ph-COOH), which is a value-added chemical and can be easily separated by crystallization. A two-electrode electrolyzer was accordingly constructed using CC@NiO/Ni 3 S 2 as the cathode and anode electrocatalysts for HER and Ph-CH 2 OH oxidation, respectively, showing stable production of hydrogen fuels and value-added Ph-COOH. More importantly, the H 2 generation rate is boosted by 2.6 times at 1.609 V by replacing water oxidation with Ph-CH 2 OH oxidation, which can also save electrical energy of 10.0 % at 50 mA cm −2 . This work offers a facile strategy to develop advanced bifunctional electrocatalysts with abundant heterointerfaces for practical applications in energy-saving hydrogen production.

In-situ synthesis of microflower composed of N-doped carbon films and Mo2C coupled with Ni or FeNi alloy for water splitting

Water electrolysis represents a promising technology for the production of hydrogen fuels. High-performance and stable non-noble electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) are urgently desired to improve the efficiency of water splitting for large-scale hydrogen production. Herein, a flowerlike heterojunction catalyst composed of N-doped carbon films and Mo2C nanoparticles strongly coupled with ultrasmall Ni or FeNi alloy (Ni-Mo2C/CF or FeNi-Mo2C/CF) is in-situ synthesized for efficient water splitting. The as-prepared samples with unique architecture and composition combine the synergistic effects of both geometric design and electronic modification, possessing plenty of active sites, robust heterostructures, abundant channels for rapid mass transport and electron/ion transfer, and the improved conductivity for high-efficiency charge exchange during electrocatalytic process. The optimized Ni-Mo2C/CF for HER and FeNi-Mo2C/CF for OER achieve overpotentials of 81 and 228 mV to reach 10 mA cm−2, respectively, in 1.0 M KOH. Furthermore, the FeNi-Mo2C/CF(+)//Ni-Mo2C/CF(−) alkaline water electrolyzer demonstrates a low cell voltage of 1.53 V at 10 mA cm−2, outperforming most ever-reported water electrolyzer cells, and impressive stability over 24 h at 50 mA cm−2. This work provides a facile and effective method to construct high-performance and non-precious metal electrocatalysts for commercial water splitting.

Efficient wide-spectrum photocatalytic overall water splitting over ultrathin molecular nickel phthalocyanine/BiVO4 Z-scheme heterojunctions without noble metals

Photocatalytic overall water splitting (OWS) is a promising route for sustainable production of hydrogen fuels. A grand challenge is developing efficient photocatalysts with extended light absorption, high charge separation and abundant catalytic sites. Here, we designed molecular nickel phthalocyanines on phosphate-functionalized bismuth vanadate nanosheets (NiPc/PO-BVNS) as ultrathin heterojunctions, targeting OWS without noble-metal cocatalysts or sacrificial agents. Optimal NiPc/PO-BVNS affords H2/O2 evolution rates of 23.89/12.23 μmol g−1 h−1 with stoichiometric ratio under UV–vis irradiation, which reaches remarkable 50-fold enhancement over the benchmark g-C3N4/BVNS. The excellent photoactivities are ascribed to the novel Z-scheme charge separation between NiPc and PO-BVNS, where phosphates are proved to induce quasi-single-molecule-layer dispersion of NiPcs by H-bonding effect meanwhile create negative field to trap holes. Moreover, well-defined Ni2+–N4 center of NiPc could function as the catalytic sites for H2 evolution. This work diversifies the artificial photosynthesis systems with a facile strategy of constructing novel Z-scheme organic/inorganic heterojunctions.

In Operando Spectroscopic Study for Durable Ammonia Electrolysis on Platinum

Ammonia has recently been considered as a promising energy carrier and a carbon-free fuel. Combining with renewable energy sources, ammonia oxidation reaction (AOR) is crucial reaction for onsite hydrogen-fuel production and electricity generation in future energy scenario. In spite of promising beginning-of-life AOR activity of platinum, its implementation is hampered by vulnerable AOR catalysis. Hence, improved durability is critically needed but challenged by insufficient understanding of its degradation mechanism during NH3 electrolysis. In this work, we study the degradation mechanisms of Pt during AOR catalysis with operando and in/ex situ spectroscopies. Passivation of the Pt surface and complexation of the dissolved Pt ions by NH3 (or NH3 derivatives during AOR) are identified. Such chemical modifications accelerate Pt dissolution by forming stable complex while decelerate Pt redeposition by passivation of Pt surface, which lead to the instable nature of Pt electrocatalysis toward AOR. Based on the potential-resolved investigations, a stable operando potential window and strategy for operating AOR are suggested in this study. The preliminary AOR protocol demonstrates prolonged NH3 electrolysis without significant degradation of Pt, which implicates the possible usage of NH3 as an energy carrier when the proposed operation strategy is further developed.

POM-assisted coating of MOF-derived Mo-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes for upgrading oxygen evolution reaction

Endowing noble-metal-free electrocatalysts with superior oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity is essential in water electrolysis for massive and cost-effective production of hydrogen fuels. Here, we presented Mo-doped Co3O4 nanoparticles-coated carbon nanotubes (Mo-Co3O4/CNTs), which were fabricated through pyrolysis of CNTs-stringed ZIF-67 with the doping of phosphomolybdic acid. The as-prepared Mo-Co3O4/CNTs exhibits high OER activity and strong durability with the onset potential of 1.42 V and almost constant low overpotential of 280 mV at 10 mA cm−2, which outcompete the benchmark IrO2 electrocatalyst. The outstanding OER performance is mainly attributed that Mo doping modulates the electronic properties and structures of Co3O4, which bring out high proportion of Co2+ active sites, large specific surface area, more electrophilic Co ions and favorable interfacial charge transfer. This work highlights the modification effects of high-valence metal ions on the structures of the electrocatalysts for improving OER performance.

Ni/MoC heteronanoparticles encapsulated within nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube arrays as highly efficient self-supported electrodes for overall water splitting

Electrochemical water splitting is one of the most clean and economical method for the production of hydrogen fuels for sustainable energy sources. In order to acquire large-scale hydrogen production, low-cost and robust bifunctional catalysts are needed to catalyze hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER). Herein, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube (NCNT) arrays are successfully constructed on the carbon cloth (CC) as bifunctional catalysts for overall water splitting via a facile strategy. Structural analyses indicate that the Ni and MoC nanoparticles are encapsulated in the NCNTs. Experimental results imply that the synergistic effect between Ni and MoC, high electrical conductivity, and binder-free electrode configuration endow the self-supported electrode to have excellent activities with a current density of 10 mA cm−2, at low overpotentials of 70 and 219 mV for HER and OER, respectively. When applied as two-electrode electrolyzer, the self-supported electrodes only need a cell voltage of 1.535 V at a current density of 10 mA cm−2, superior to the benchmark Pt/C and IrO2 couple. Furthermore, the electrolyzer exhibits remarkable stability even at a current density beyond 100 mA cm−2 over 30 h. This strategy will open a facile method to the expansion of high-efficiency bifunctional electrocatalysts for commercial water splitting.

Unraveling the oxide layer on Mo2C as the active center for hydrogen evolution reaction

Large-scale production of hydrogen fuels via electrochemical water splitting requires efficient and cost-effective electrocatalysts. Molybdenum carbide (Mo2C), as a promising substitute for expensive Pt-based catalysts, exhibits outstanding electrocatalytic performance toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, by combining theoretical studies and experimental measurements, we systematically investigate the surface stability and HER activity of Mo2C. We demonstrate that the Mo2C(100) surface is oxidized under HER turnover condition, and the HER activity shows a positive correlation with the oxidation degrees of this surface. The Mo2C(100) surface covered by a monolayer of oxygen atoms is verified as the most stable surface structure, which derives the optimum HER activity, and thus the surface chemisorbed oxygen atoms are identified as the active sites. This study provides new insights into developing efficient electrocatalysts for HER based on Mo2C.

Three-dimensional Ni2P–MoP2 mesoporous nanorods array as self-standing electrocatalyst for highly efficient hydrogen evolution

Electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) via the splitting of water has required electrocatalysts with cost-effectiveness, environmentally friendliness, high catalytic activity, and superior stability to meet the hydrogen economy in future. In this context, we report the successful synthesis of self-standing mesoporous Ni2P–MoP2 nanorod arrays on nickel foam (Ni2P–MoP2 NRs/3D-NF) through an effective phosphidization of the corresponding NiMoO4 NRs/3D-NF. The as-synthesis Ni2P–MoP2 NRs/3D-NF, as an efficient HER electrocatalyst, exhibits small overpotential of 82.2 and 124.7 mV to reach current density of 10 and 50 mA cm−2, a low Tafel slope of 52.9 mV dec−1 and it retains its catalytic performance for at least 20 h in alkaline condition. Our work also offers a new strategy in designing and using transition metal phosphide-based 3D nanoarrays catalysts with enhanced catalytic efficiency for mass production of hydrogen fuels.

Facile synthesis of CoxFe1−xP microcubes derived from metal-organic frameworks for efficient oxygen evolution reaction

The electrochemical splitting of water provides an attractive method for the production of hydrogen fuels. Unfortunately, the slow kinetics of oxygen evolution (OER) on the anode side of the electrolyzer hinders the efficient and large-scale hydrogen production. In this study, starting from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), a series of bimetal phosphides CoxFe1−xP (x = 0.33, 0.50, 0.66, 0.75 and 0.80) were synthesized by low-temperature phosphidiation of corresponding MOFs precursors. The as-prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Studies indicate that the proportion of cobalt and iron elements make a big differences on the structure of the materials. Benefiting from the porous structure and large specific area of the MOFs precursors, as well as the synergistic effect between Co and Fe elements, the as-synthesized Co0.66Fe0.33P shows superior electrocatalytic performances and outstanding stability toward OER in alkaline solution.

Superior alkaline hydrogen evolution electrocatalysis enabled by an ultrafine PtNi nanoparticle-decorated Ni nanoarray with ultralow Pt loading

An ultrafine PtNi nanoparticle-decorated Ni nanosheet array with ultralow Pt loading acts as a superior hydrogen-evolving electrocatalyst.

Photoinduced Hydrogen Fuel Production and Water Decontamination Technologies. Orthogonal Strategies with a Parallel Future?

Photoinduced Hydrogen Fuel Production and Water Decontamination Technologies. Orthogonal Strategies with a Parallel Future?

High-Efficiency and Durable Water Oxidation under Mild pH Conditions: An Iron Phosphate–Borate Nanosheet Array as a Non-Noble-Metal Catalyst Electrode

It is highly desired but still remains a key challenge to develop iron-based large-surface-area arrays as heterogeneous water oxidation catalysts that perform efficiently and durably under mild pH conditions for solar-to-hydrogen conversion. In this work, we report the in situ derivation of an iron phosphate-borate nanosheet array on carbon cloth (Fe-Pi-Bi/CC) from an iron phosphide nanosheet array via oxidative polarization in a potassium borate (KBi) solution. As a 3D catalyst electrode for water oxidation at mild pH, such a Fe-Pi-Bi/CC shows high activity and strong long-term electrochemical durability, and it only demands an overpotential of 434 mV to drive a geometrical catalytic current density of 10 mA cm-2 with maintenance of its activity for at least 20 h in 0.1 M KBi. This study offers an attractive earth-abundant catalyst material in water-splitting devices toward the large-scale production of hydrogen fuels under benign conditions for application.

NiS2 nanosheet array: A high-active bifunctional electrocatalyst for hydrazine oxidation and water reduction toward energy-efficient hydrogen production

The sluggish kinetics of water oxidation has severely hindered the energetic convenience of electrochemical water splitting. In this work, we describe our recent finding that NiS2 nanosheet array on Ti mesh (NiS2/TiM) is a superior catalyst for hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) with the demand of potential of 218 mV to drive 300 mA cm−2 in 1.0 M KOH with 0.5 M hydrazine. Interestingly, its high activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction enables it as a bifunctional catalyst for energy-efficient electrolytic hydrogen generation, and the two-electrode alkaline electrolyzer using NiS2/TiM as both anode for HzOR and cathode for HER needs a cell voltage of only 0.59 V to attain 50 mA cm−2, 1.34 V less compared with pure water splitting to achieve the same current density, promising the use of such 3D catalyst electrode toward energy-saving electrochemical production of hydrogen fuels.

Fe-Doped Ni2P Nanosheet Array for High-Efficiency Electrochemical Water Oxidation.

In this Communication, we report a high-efficiency electrocatalyst for electrochemical water oxidation based on an Fe-doped Ni2P nanosheet array on a conductive carbon cloth. This catalyst shows a low onset overpotential of 190 mV, and it demands overpotentials of only 215 and 235 mV to drive 50 and 100 mA cm-2, respectively, with high electrochemical durability. This work offers us an attractive earth-abundant 3D catalyst electrode in water-splitting devices toward the mass production of hydrogen fuels for applications.