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Definition of Electrolysis:
A chemical process in which bonded ` elements and compounds are dissociated by the passage of an electric current. The electrolysis of water: 2H2O + energy = 2H2 + 2O2
A Basic Electrolyzer
Two electrodes: Cathode (negatively charged) Anode (positively charged) An Electrolyte External circuit
Diaphragm
Alkaline Electrolyzers
Similar to PEM electrolyzers, except that they use an alkaline solution as an electrolyte. Usually this solution is sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide.
This type of
electrolyzer has been in use commercially for several decades
Photoelectrolysis
Photoelectrolysis: Clean and renewable means of deriving hydrogen Also known as Water Splitting (2 processes): 1) Conversion of solar radiation to electricity in photovoltaic cells 2) Electrolysis of water in a separate cell
Photoelectrolysis
However, the 2 processes can be combined in a single nanoscale process: Photon absorption creates a local electron-hole pair that electrochemically splits a neighboring water molecule. In theory, rather than 2 sequential process, the combination can allow for greater overall efficiency,
Photoelectrolysis
Challenges: Finding a robust semiconductor to satisfy the competing requirements of nature. Solar photons are primarily visible light, a wavelength that requires semiconductors that require small bandgaps < 1.7 eV - for efficient absorption.
Photoelectrolysis
Possible solution: Oxide based conductors Titanium oxide Advantage robust in aqueous environments but have Disadvantage - wide bandgaps ~ 3.0 eV
Photoelectrolysis
Dye-sensitized photocells: accumulate energy from multiple low-energy photons to inject higher-energy electrons into the semiconductor a promising direction for matching the solar spectrum.