Hydrogen generation by Photo-electrochemical water splitting using TiO2 photocatalyst and development of efficient solar receiver for solar concentrator.

Hydrogen generation by Photo-electrochemical water splitting using TiO2

photocatalyst and development of efficient solar receiver for solar concentrator.

The search for clean renewable energy is important to try solving problems related to emission of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels which contribute to dangerous climatic changes. Hydrogen, with its high gravimetric energy density, is a promising route to store renewable energy. Moreover, there is almost zero emission of environment pollutants when hydrogen is used as a fuel in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Presently, about 95 % of the total hydrogen is produced from fossil fuels by procedures that lead to increase in greenhouse gases. Thus, to make the life cycle of hydrogen fuel to be clean and renewable it is very important to produce hydrogen gas from clean and renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. Photocatalytic water splitting by using solar energy could contribute to the solution of environmental and energy issues related to the hydrogen production .In present work, multilayer-based TiO2 to be used as photo-electrode in hydrogen production by photo-electrochemical water-splitting. The photocatalytic efficiency of the multilayer-based TiO2 photo-electrode was tested by measuring hydrogen production through water spitting in photo-electrochemical cell. Solar-concentrator concentrates all solar radiation falling on it towards a solar receiver. This solar receiver collects all the concentrated solar radiation and then transfer heat to the surrounding water. In present work, we developed receiver of copper oxide with long time thermal stability and high corrosion resistance having a capability of absorbing most part of solar radiation

Efficient catalysts for Hydrogen production by hydrolysis of chemical hydrides

In the next few decades, global energy resources will be facing a major breakdown due to increasing requirement for energy. Hydrogen is very important as future energy vector whose application areas range from the vehicular transport to energy batteries. Moreover, there is almost zero emission of environment pollutants when hydrogen is used as a fuel in proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). For a clean hydrogen-based technology it is essential to develop a safe and convenient hydrogen storage and production systems. On-board hydrogen production is becoming increasingly important as a potential route to supply hydrogen to PEMFC. Chemical hydrides with high hydrogen storage gravimetric and volumetric efficiencies are the most potential candidates to supply pure hydrogen for portable application at room temperature. Among them, aqueous sodium borohydride (NaBH4) seems to be an ideal hydrogen source because of its distinct advantages of hydrogen generation by its hydrolysis, making it promising for on-board hydrogen generation for portable PEM fuel cells. The hydrogen generation rate can be significantly enhanced by using catalyst during the hydrolysis reaction. Cobalt boride (Co–B) is considered a good candidate owing to its relevant catalytic activity and low cost. Co–B-based powder catalysts (CoCrB, CoNiB, and CoBP) and Co-B thin films catalyst (prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique) are studied and discussed for Hydrogen generation by catalytic hydrolysis of sodium borohydride (NaBH4).