Development of Catalysts for the Implementation of a Hydrogen Economy
Open Access
Author:
Soucy, Taylor Louise
Area of Honors:
Chemistry
Degree:
Bachelor of Science
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Raymond Edward Schaak, Thesis Supervisor Raymond Lee Funk, Thesis Honors Advisor Katherine Mary Masters, Thesis Supervisor
Keywords:
catalysts nanoparticles hydrogen energy fuel
Abstract:
Global energy demands are expected to be 27 TW by 2040, up from the current level of 13 TW. Meeting this requirement by current methods of fuel production, the burning of fossil fuels, results in the production of harmful sulfur, carbon, and nitrogen-based pollutants. Photoelectrochemical cells are a promising alternative energy platform, producing clean-burning hydrogen fuel from water with oxygen as the only byproduct. In this device, hydrogen is produced at the cathode (hydrogen evolution reaction, HER) and oxygen is produced at the anode (oxygen evolution reaction, OER). For this technology to be industrially viable, earth abundant and inexpensive HER and OER catalysts must be discovered. Additionally, a method for the storage and transportation of hydrogen as a solid must be developed to minimize shipping costs. Here, we show that molybdenum rich Co-Mo nanoparticles are effective catalysts for the HER. We also describe recent discoveries in our lab towards the implementation of promising catalysts for the hydrolysis of a hydrogen storage material.
