Solar-Powered AEM Electrolyzer via PGM-Free (Oxy)hydroxide Anode with Solar to Hydrogen Conversion Efficiency of 12.44%

초록

Water electrolyzers powered by renewable energy are emerging as clean and sustainable technology for producing hydrogen without carbon emissions. Specifically, anion exchange membrane (AEM) electrolyzers utilizing non-platinum group metal (non-PGM) catalysts have garnered attention as a cost-effective method for hydrogen production, especially when integrated with solar cells. Nonetheless, the progress of such integrated systems is hindered by inadequate water electrolysis efficiency, primarily caused by poor oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrodes. To address this issue, a NiFeCo & horbar;OOH has developed as an OER electrocatalyst and successfully demonstrated its efficacy in an AEM electrolyzer, which is powered by renewable electricity and integrated with a silicon solar cell. Incorporating cobalt into NiFe(oxy)hydroxide significantly reduces the electrochemical activation barrier for an oxygen evolution reaction, thereby substantially diminishing activation losses in an AEM electrolyzer and resulting in high efficiency. Furthermore, the integrated system of the AEM electrolyzer and silicon solar cells demonstrates high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency. image

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