Executive Summary : | Objective: Prime objective of the proposed work is the development anion / duel charge membrane based efficient water electrolysis device for cost effective pure hydrogen production with 90% efficiency. During the progress of work, we will also develop transition metal based reduced graphene oxide (rGO) incorporated porous hollow nanocomposite based bi-functional catalyst which will work efficiently for both the two half-cell reaction (HER and OER). We will develop efficient and stable indigenous anion exchange membrane and duel charge membrane for the fabrication of water electrolysis device for the production of cost effective pure hydrogen.
Synthesis of supramolecular self-assembled membranous assembly using inorganic polyoxometalate with oxidation-resistant dyes will be targeted. The project will also involve development of visible light driven artificial photosynthesis system, comprising membranous assembly and bulk phase of light harvesting dye molecule along with sacrificial donor. Finally, analysis of hydrogen production, and lifetime of catalytic system will be evaluated. Summary: Membrane based water electrolysis is most promising technique for highly pure, efficient hydrogen production from renewable energy sources in a comparatively cheaper cost, where emission of oxygen byproduct is added benefit. Although, proton-exchange membrane electrolysis (PME) is used for industrial hydrogen production, thehigh membrane cost, usage of noble metal catalyst, limited cell durability are main stumble blocks. To this end, anion exchange membrane electrolysis (AME) has several advantages, including, non-noble metal catalyst, non-corrosive electrolyte, compact cell design and stable hydrogen production with good efficiency. However, AMEhasvery handful literature reports (<20), and requires further investigations in terms of power e?ciency, catalyst stability, ease of handling, and reduction of cell cost. Development of dual charge membrane based electrolysis is also an effective alternative for generation of hydrogen at lower potential. Unfortunately, not a single report exists on this technology. In this proposal, we plan to work on anion and dual charge membrane electrolysis based on three different aspects, i) development of efficient and scalable catalysts, ii) Development of indigenous anion and duel charge membrane and iii) optimization of cell parameter towards cost effective H2 production. Transition metal based reduced graphene oxide (rGO) incorporated porous hollow nanocompositecatalyst will be used in this study.
We will also work on cost effective H2 through solar light driven photolysis. To overcome the high cost of photovoltaic cell and dye stability of developed electrolysis strategy, compartment chemical strategies through heterogenization of organic dye molecules will be adopted. Our target is to interface polyoxometalates, a water oxidation catalyst, and light harvesting dye molecules. Such interface creates two compartment, from which one compartment is of pH 7 for the dye stability and other compartment of pH 1-2, most favorable conditions for proton reduction to form H2. The proposed strategy will give superior and stable photolysis efficiency and may will be advantageous for solar light induced H2 production. |