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Nanotechnology makes biomass electrolysis more energy efficient than water electrolysis

Author

Listed:
  • Y. X. Chen

    (ICCOM-CNR
    University of Trieste)

  • A. Lavacchi

    (ICCOM-CNR)

  • H. A. Miller

    (ICCOM-CNR)

  • M. Bevilacqua

    (ICCOM-CNR)

  • J. Filippi

    (ICCOM-CNR)

  • M. Innocenti

    (ICCOM-CNR
    Università di Firenze)

  • A. Marchionni

    (ICCOM-CNR)

  • W. Oberhauser

    (ICCOM-CNR)

  • L. Wang

    (ICCOM-CNR
    University of Trieste)

  • F. Vizza

    (ICCOM-CNR)

Abstract

The energetic convenience of electrolytic water splitting is limited by thermodynamics. Consequently, significant levels of hydrogen production can only be obtained with an electrical energy consumption exceeding 45 kWhkg -1 H 2 . Electrochemical reforming allows the overcoming of such thermodynamic limitations by replacing oxygen evolution with the oxidation of biomass-derived alcohols. Here we show that the use of an original anode material consisting of palladium nanoparticles deposited on to a three-dimensional architecture of titania nanotubes allows electrical energy savings up to 26.5 kWhkg -1 H 2 as compared with proton electrolyte membrane water electrolysis. A net energy analysis shows that for bio-ethanol with energy return of the invested energy larger than 5.1 (for example, cellulose), the electrochemical reforming energy balance is advantageous over proton electrolyte membrane water electrolysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Y. X. Chen & A. Lavacchi & H. A. Miller & M. Bevilacqua & J. Filippi & M. Innocenti & A. Marchionni & W. Oberhauser & L. Wang & F. Vizza, 2014. "Nanotechnology makes biomass electrolysis more energy efficient than water electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 5(1), pages 1-6, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:5:y:2014:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms5036
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5036
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    Cited by:

    1. Zhenhua Li & Yifan Yan & Si-Min Xu & Hua Zhou & Ming Xu & Lina Ma & Mingfei Shao & Xianggui Kong & Bin Wang & Lirong Zheng & Haohong Duan, 2022. "Alcohols electrooxidation coupled with H2 production at high current densities promoted by a cooperative catalyst," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, December.
    2. Guangzai Nong & Zongwen Zhou & Shuangfei Wang, 2015. "Generation of Hydrogen, Lignin and Sodium Hydroxide from Pulping Black Liquor by Electrolysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Ganceng Yang & Yanqing Jiao & Haijing Yan & Ying Xie & Chungui Tian & Aiping Wu & Yu Wang & Honggang Fu, 2022. "Unraveling the mechanism for paired electrocatalysis of organics with water as a feedstock," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Gilmore, Nicholas & Koskinen, Ilpo & van Gennip, Domenique & Paget, Greta & Burr, Patrick A. & Obbard, Edward G. & Daiyan, Rahman & Sproul, Alistair & Kay, Merlinde & Lennon, Alison & Konstantinou, Ge, 2022. "Clean energy futures: An Australian based foresight study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    5. Hu, Bo & Xu, Lianfei & Li, Yang & Sun, Fei & Wang, Zhuozhi & Yang, Mengchi & Zhang, Yangyang & Kong, Wenwen & Shen, Boxiong & Wang, Xin & Yang, Jiancheng, 2024. "Biochar and Fe2+ mediation in hydrogen production by water electrolysis: Effects of physicochemical properties of biochars," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 297(C).
    6. Yuri Choi & Rashmi Mehrotra & Sang-Hak Lee & Trang Vu Thien Nguyen & Inhui Lee & Jiyeong Kim & Hwa-Young Yang & Hyeonmyeong Oh & Hyunwoo Kim & Jae-Won Lee & Yong Hwan Kim & Sung-Yeon Jang & Ji-Wook Ja, 2022. "Bias-free solar hydrogen production at 19.8 mA cm−2 using perovskite photocathode and lignocellulosic biomass," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    7. Chen, Shuai & Zhou, Wei & Ding, Yani & Zhao, Guangbo & Gao, Jihui, 2021. "Fe3+-mediated coal-assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production: Roles of mineral matter and oxygen-containing functional groups in coal," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    8. Nicholas Gurieff & Behdad Moghtaderi & Rahman Daiyan & Rose Amal, 2021. "Gas Transition: Renewable Hydrogen’s Future in Eastern Australia’s Energy Networks," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-20, July.
    9. Ju, HyungKuk & Badwal, Sukhvinder & Giddey, Sarbjit, 2018. "A comprehensive review of carbon and hydrocarbon assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 502-533.
    10. Zhou, Wei & Chen, Shuai & Meng, Xiaoxiao & Li, Jiayi & Huang, Yuming & Gao, Jihui & Zhao, Guangbo & He, Yong & Qin, Yukun, 2022. "Two-step coal-assisted water electrolysis for energy-saving hydrogen production at cell voltage of 1.2 V with current densities larger than 150 mA/cm2," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    11. Hamish Andrew Miller & Jacopo Ruggeri & Andrea Marchionni & Marco Bellini & Maria Vincenza Pagliaro & Carlo Bartoli & Andrea Pucci & Elisa Passaglia & Francesco Vizza, 2018. "Improving the Energy Efficiency of Direct Formate Fuel Cells with a Pd/C-CeO 2 Anode Catalyst and Anion Exchange Ionomer in the Catalyst Layer," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-12, February.

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