Bipolar Membranes for Optimized Electrochemical Engineering
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The development of efficient solar to fuel devices will require electrocatalyst and photoelectrode materials to operate in a common electrochemical environment. However, the optimal environment for the oxidation and reduction reactions are typically not the same, and thus significant challenges remain to find an efficient and stable overall water splitting system. Our research studies the importance that the electrolyte pH can play in the activation and performance of electrocatalyst and photoelectrode materials. The opportunities of using a bipolar membrane to separate anode and cathode compartments to separately optimize both reaction conditions is studied with regard to photoelectrochemical and electrochemical devices for highly efficient and stable solar driven water splitting.
(D. Vermaas et al., J. Mat. Chem. A, 3, 4155 (2015), J. Luo et al., Adv. Energy Mat., 3, 4155 (2016)) |
Technoeconomic Case Study for Solar Hydrogen
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While developing the fundamental science of solar to fuel systems, it is also important to have rational and meaningful prospects that this technology may be able to play a role in our energy supply chain. Our group has undertaken a rigorous technoeconomic study of a practical solar to fuel device, and made a real-life cost estimation for an up-scaled system to produce solar hydrogen in Germany. The end result shows us that this technology has the potential to meet or even be lower than the price of fossil fuels now available, showing that our research can help drive the growth of a new energy technology.
(M. Victoria et al., submitted) |
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Integrated Solar Cell/Battery/Electrolyser
Coming soon...
Upscaled Demonstration Device
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Coming soon...
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