Table Of ContentElectrochemical Methods for Hydrogen Production
Energy and Environment Series
Editor-in-chief:
Heinz Frei, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, USA
Series editors:
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Roberto Rinaldi, Imperial College London, UK
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2: Innovations in Fuel Cell Technologies
3: Energy Crops
4: Chemical and Biochemical Catalysis for Next Generation Biofuels
5: Molecular Solar Fuels
6: Catalysts for Alcohol-Fuelled Direct Oxidation Fuel Cells
7: Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: From Materials to System Modeling
8:SolarEnergyConversion:DynamicsofInterfacialElectronandExcitation
Transfer
9: Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Materials, Processes and
Architectures
10:BiologicalConversionofBiomassforFuelsandChemicals:Explorations
from Natural Utilization Systems
11: Advanced Concepts in Photovoltaics
12: Materials Challenges: Inorganic Photovoltaic Solar Energy
13: Catalytic Hydrogenation for Biomass Valorization
14: Photocatalysis: Fundamentals and Perspectives
15: Photocatalysis: Applications
16: Unconventional Thin Film Photovoltaics
17: Thermoelectric Materials and Devices
18: X-Ray Free Electron Lasers: Applications in Materials, Chemistry and
Biology
19: Lignin Valorization: Emerging Approaches
20: Advances in Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Theory, Experiment
and Systems Analysis
21: Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide: Overcoming the
Limitations of Photosynthesis
22: Integrated Solar Fuel Generators
23: Magnesium Batteries: Research and Applications
24: Organic Thermoelectric Materials
25: Electrochemical Methods for Hydrogen Production
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Electrochemical Methods
for Hydrogen Production
Edited by
Keith Scott
Newcastle University, UK
Email: [email protected]
EnergyandEnvironmentSeriesNo.25
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Preface
With the increasing need for a clean environment with low pollution and
emissions, a strategic change in the methods of generating power is re-
quired,whichdonotinvolvethesimpleburningofhydrocarbonbasedfuels.
Facedwiththisrequirement,andincreasingcarbondioxidereleaseandthe
eventual longer term reduced availability of oil and natural gas, alternative
sources of fuels are needed. Such fuels may be produced by a range of
technologies but a major source can come from an established technology
based on electrolysis of water. This electrolysis of water creates hydrogen
gas, which is a fuel with important characteristics of high energy density
storageandhighreactivity.Hydrogencanbeusedasanintermediatestorage
of energy,which can be used in transportation applications, e.g. electrically
powered cars, and large scale power generation. The electrolysis of water
also has the advantage that it is one of the few established routes that
can use a renewable or sustainable energy source; i.e. from wind, solar or
hydroelectric power.
This book provides a comprehensive picture of the various routes to
use electricity to produce hydrogen using electrochemical science and
technology.Increasedhydrogensuppliesusingcleanermethodsareseenas
essential for a potential hydrogen based power and energy economy for
transportation and renewable energy conversion into fuel.
Covering the various aspects of this fast-evolving areas of hydrogen pro-
duction and use, this book includes the fundamentals of electrochemical
cells and performance characterisation and a comparison of current appli-
cations, while focusing on the latest achievements and future directions.
The book describes the various types of electrolysers currently used
commercially,i.e.protonexchangeelectrolytemembraneandliquidalkaline
electrolysers.Currentmanufacturersandthemainfeaturesofcommercially
availableelectrolysersarereviewed.Thebookalsodescribesneweremerging
EnergyandEnvironmentSeriesNo.25
ElectrochemicalMethodsforHydrogenProduction
EditedbyKeithScott
rTheRoyalSocietyofChemistry2020
PublishedbytheRoyalSocietyofChemistry,www.rsc.org
vii
viii Preface
technologies based on high temperature solid oxide electrolysers, low tem-
perature alkaline membrane electrolysers and intermediate temperature
membraneelectrolysers.Alternativeelectrolysisroutesfromwhichhydrogen
is produced are described including, electro-reforming of alcohols, various
electrochemical syntheses, e.g. the chlor alkali industry and the more novel
technology of unitised fuel cells, which function both as electrolysers and
power generators.
The final chapter considers socio economic aspects of hydrogen gener-
ation related to, for example, the possible configurations for integrating
water electrolysis units with renewable energy sources in both autonomous
and grid-connected systems; giving examples of relevant demonstration
projects.
This book will be a valuable source of information on electrolyser tech-
nologies for hydrogen production and electrochemical science and engin-
eering. It is suitable for both undergraduate and postgraduate students in
science and engineering and to industrial practitioners in the field. It also
willactasasourceofinformationontherequirementsandchallengesfaced
in establishing hydrogen economy systems.
Keith Scott
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my wife (Jean) who has been unbelievably
supportive during my various endeavors in the field of electrochemical
engineering science, and to my immediate family (Tamsin, Alex, Amy and
Sophie; who have long since grown up) and the next generation of Scotts;
beginning with Florence (born April 7, 2016).
EnergyandEnvironmentSeriesNo.25
ElectrochemicalMethodsforHydrogenProduction
EditedbyKeithScott
rTheRoyalSocietyofChemistry2020
PublishedbytheRoyalSocietyofChemistry,www.rsc.org
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