Photovoltaic-assisted hydrogen generation (PH2ON) (completed)

PV-assisted PEC water vapour splitting

About the project

Solar-powered water electrolysis for the production of pure hydrogen is an established technology, but the high cost due to the complexity of the system makes it difficult to compete with hydrogen produced by fossil fuels.

Integrating the solar cell with the water electrolyzer into a single, simpler, monolithic device is the way to go. PH2ON is a collaboration between the University of Oslo (UiO), which develops photo-electrolyzers, and the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), which develops solar cells. Apart from the current technological challenges, clean water sources for hydrogen production could in some locations become a major issue in the future. For this reason, the unique PH2ON device will be able to photoelectrochemically produce hydrogen from water that is present in the atmospheric humidity and can be considered as an artificial photosynthesis process.

The project will run for 3 years and is supported by leading international groups in the field of solar fuels with the ambition to establish a group of scientific excellence in the intersection of photoelectrochemical and photovoltaic technologies.

Financing

The project is funded by the Research Council of Norway, under the FRIPRO-FRINATEK program. Project number 288320.

Cooperation

University of Oslo

Institute of Energy Technology (IFE)

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Kang, Xiaolan; Reinertsen, Vilde Mari; Both, Kevin Gregor; Galeckas, Augustinas; Aarholt, Thomas & Prytz, Øystein [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). Galvanic Restructuring of Exsolved Nanoparticles for Plasmonic and Electrocatalytic Energy Conversion. Small. ISSN 1613-6810. 18(29). doi: 10.1002/smll.202201106. Full text in Research Archive
Kang, Xiaolan; Chatzitakis, Athanasios; Aarholt, Thomas; Sun, Xinwei; Negri, Chiara & Norby, Truls (2022). Facet-engineered TiO<inf>2</inf>nanomaterials reveal the role of water-oxide interactions in surface protonic conduction. Journal of Materials Chemistry A. ISSN 2050-7488. 10(1), p. 218–227. doi: 10.1039/d1ta06075a. Full text in Research Archive
Liu, Xin; Risbakk, Sanne; Almeida Carvalho, Patricia; Yang, Mingyi; Backe, Paul Hoff & Bjørås, Magnar [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Immobilization of FeFe-hydrogenase on black TiO2 nanotubes as biocathodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Electrochemistry communications. ISSN 1388-2481. 135. doi: 10.1016/j.elecom.2022.107221. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Hydrogenases are attractive biocatalysts for utilization in electrochemical devices as potential replacement for Pt in hydrogen evolving electrodes. In this work, we investigate the immobilization of ferredoxin tagged FeFe-hydrogenase (Fd-HydA1) on black TiO2 nanotubes (bTNTs), with uniform nanotube opening diameters of 140 nm. By utilizing an immunogold labelling method, we show that the enzymes attach on the top surface of the bTNTs film rather than on the inner nanotube walls, reflecting the difficulty to insert enzymes into high aspect-ratio nanomaterials for O2-shielding. Nevertheless, cyclic voltammetry demonstrates direct electron transfer between Fd-HydA1 and bTNTs for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in neutral media. This work provides new insight towards design of new nanostructured electrodes for enzyme immobilization.
Touni, Aikaterini; Liu, Xin; Kang, Xiaolan; Papoulia, Chrysanthi; Pavlidou, Eleni & Lambropoulou, Dimitra [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). Methanol Oxidation at Platinum Coated Black Titania Nanotubes and Titanium Felt Electrodes. Molecules. ISSN 1431-5157. 27(19), p. 1–15. doi: 10.3390/molecules27196382. Full text in Research Archive
Xu, Kaiqi; Chatzitakis, Athanasios Eleftherios; Backe, Paul Hoff; Ruan, Qiushi; Tang, Junwang & Rise, Frode [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). In situ cofactor regeneration enables selective CO2 reduction in a stable and efficient enzymatic photoelectrochemical cell. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental. ISSN 0926-3373. 296. doi: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.120349. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Mimicking natural photosynthesis by direct photoelectrochemical (PEC) reduction of CO2 to chemicals and fuels requires complex cell assemblies with limitations in selectivity, efficiency, cost, and stability. Here, we present a breakthrough cathode utilizing an oxygen tolerant formate dehydrogenase enzyme derived from clostridium carboxidivorans and coupled to a novel and efficient in situ nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+/NADH) regeneration mechanism through interfacial electrochemistry on g-C3N4 films. We demonstrate stable (20 h) aerobic PEC CO2-to-formate reduction at close to 100 % faradaic efficiency and unit selectivity in a bio-hybrid PEC cell of minimal engineering with optimized Ta3N5 nanotube photoanode powered by simulated sunlight with a solar to fuel efficiency of 0.063 %, approaching that of natural photosynthesis.
Kang, Xiaolan; Chaperman, Larissa; Galeckas, Augustinas; Ammar, Souad; Mammeri, Fayna & Norby, Truls [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2021). Water Vapor Photoelectrolysis in a Solid-State Photoelectrochemical Cell with TiO2 Nanotubes Loaded with CdS and CdSe Nanoparticles. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. ISSN 1944-8244. 13(39), p. 46875–46885. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c13047. Full text in Research Archive
Kang, Xiaolan; Berberidou, Chrysanthi; Galeckas, Augustinas; Bazioti, Kalliopi; Sagstuen, Einar & Norby, Truls Eivind [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Visible Light Driven Photocatalytic Decolorization and Disinfection of Water Employing Reduced TiO2 Nanopowders. Catalysts. ISSN 2073-4344. 11(2). doi: 10.3390/catal11020228. Full text in Research Archive
Zhu, Junjie; Gudmundsdottir, Jonina Björg; Strandbakke, Ragnar; Both, Kevin Gregor; Aarholt, Thomas & Almeida Carvalho, Patricia [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2021). Double Perovskite Cobaltites Integrated in a Monolithic and Noble Metal-Free Photoelectrochemical Device for Efficient Water Splitting. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. ISSN 1944-8244. 13(17), p. 20313–20325. doi: 10.1021/acsami.1c01900. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Water photoelectrolysis has the potential to produce renewable hydrogen fuel, therefore addressing the intermittent nature of sunlight. Herein, a monolithic, photovoltaic (PV)-assisted water electrolysis device of minimal engineering and of low (in the μg range) noble-metal-free catalysts loading is presented for unassisted water splitting in alkaline media. An efficient double perovskite cobaltite catalyst, originally developed for high-temperature proton-conducting ceramic electrolyzers, possesses high activity for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media at room temperatures too. Ba1–xGd1–yLax+yCo2O6−δ (BGLC) is combined with a NiMo cathode, and a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 6.6% in 1.0 M NaOH, under 1 sun simulated illumination for 71 h, is demonstrated. This work highlights how readily available earth-abundant materials and established PV methods can achieve high performance and stable and monolithic photoelectrolysis devices with potential for full-scale applications.
Touni, Aikaterini; Liu, Xin; Kang, Xiaolan; Almeida Carvalho, Patricia; Diplas, Spyridon & Both, Kevin Gregor [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2021). Galvanic Deposition of Pt Nanoparticles on Black TiO2 Nanotubes for Hydrogen Evolving Cathodes. ChemSusChem. ISSN 1864-5631. 14(22), p. 4993–5003. doi: 10.1002/cssc.202101559. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
A galvanic deposition method for the in-situ formation of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on top and inner surfaces of high-aspect-ratio black TiO2-nanotube electrodes (bTNTs) for true utilization of their total surface area has been developed. Density functional theory calculations indicated that the deposition of Pt NPs was favored on bTNTs with a preferred [004] orientation and a deposition mechanism occurring via oxygen vacancies, where electrons were localized. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy images revealed a graded deposition of Pt NPs with an average diameter of around 2.5 nm along the complete nanotube axis (length/pore diameter of 130 : 1). Hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) studies in acidic electrolytes showed comparable results to bulk Pt (per geometric area) and Pt/C commercial catalysts (per mg of Pt). The presented novel HER cathodes of minimal engineering and low noble metal loadings (μg cm−2 range) achieved low Tafel slopes (30–34 mV dec−1) and high stability in acidic conditions. This study provides important insights for the in-situ formation and deposition of NPs in high-aspect-ratio structures for energy applications.
Andersen, Håkon; Xu, Kaiqi; Malyshkin, Dmitry; Strandbakke, Ragnar & Chatzitakis, Athanasios Eleftherios (2020). A highly efficient electrocatalyst based on double perovskite cobaltites with immense intrinsic catalytic activity for water oxidation. Chemical Communications. ISSN 1359-7345. 56(7), p. 1030–1033. doi: 10.1039/c9cc08765f.

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Kang, Xiaolan; Reinertsen, Vilde Mari; Both, Kevin Gregor; Galeckas, Augustinas; Aarholt, Thomas & Prytz, Øystein [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). Galvanic Restructuring of Exsolved Nanoparticles for Plasmonic and Electrocatalytic Energy Conversion (Small 29/2022 Inside back cover feature). Small. ISSN 1613-6810. 18(29).
Both, Kevin Gregor; Reinertsen, Vilde Mari; Kang, Xiaolan; Neagu, Dragos; Prytz, Øystein & Norby, Truls [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Thin Film Exsolution of Metal Nanoparticles and Their Galvanic Restructuring for Plasmonically Enhanced Photocatalytic Activity.
Kang, Xiaolan; Chaperman, Larissa; Galeckas, Augustinas; Ammar-Merah, Souad; Mammeri, Fayna & Norby, Truls [Show all 7 contributors for this article] (2022). Water Vapor Photoelectrolysis in an All Solid-State Photoelectrochemical Cell .
Kang, Xiaolan; Reinertsen, Vilde Mari; Both, Kevin Gregor; Galeckas, Augustinas; Aarholt, Thomas & Prytz, Øystein [Show all 9 contributors for this article] (2022). Exsolved nanoparticles, galvanically restructured for tunable photo-electrocatalytic energy conversion.
Both, Kevin Gregor; Reinertsen, Vilde Mari; Kang, Xiaolan; Aarholt, Thomas; Neagu, Dragos & Prytz, Øystein [Show all 8 contributors for this article] (2022). Improved Photoelectrochemical Performance of SrTiO3 by Plasmonically Active Au Nanoparticles.
Chatzitakis, Athanasios; Zhu, Junjie; Gudmundsdottir, Jonina Björg; Strandbakke, Ragnar; Both, Kevin Gregor & Aarholt, Thomas [Show all 12 contributors for this article] (2022). A monolithic and noble metal-free photoelectrochemical device of minimal engineering for efficient, unassisted water splitting.
Chatzitakis, Athanasios (2021). Her splittes vann til hydrogen og oksygen bare ved hjelp av sollys.
Chatzitakis, Athanasios (2021). Solar Hydrogen Production.
Chaperman, Larissa; Mammeri, Fayna; Chatzitakis, Athanasios & Ammar, Souad (2021). Functionally graded, soft chemistry processed titania photoanode for water-splitting in liquid and gas phases.
Touni, Aikaterini; Liu, Xin; Chatzitakis, Athanasios Eleftherios; Kang, Xiaolan; Spyridou, Olga & Sotiropoulos, Sotiris (2021). Platinized Black Titania Nanotube HER Cathodes prepared by the Galvanic Deposition Method at CaH2-reduced Titania Nanotubes.
Chatzitakis, Athanasios Eleftherios (2019). Can we make fuel in the future from… simply air? .
Chatzitakis, Athanasios Eleftherios (2019). Artificial Photosynthesis: Mimicking nature for a sustainable energy future.
Chatzitakis, Athanasios Eleftherios (2019). Prospects of photoelectrochemical water electrolysis and the production of solar fuels.
Chatzitakis, Athanasios (2019). Sol + luftfuktighet = hydrogen = ren energi.

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Published Sep. 30, 2019 3:02 PM - Last modified Apr. 14, 2023 2:46 PM

Participants

Athanasios Chatzitakis University of Oslo

Detailed list of participants