Christopher CarverDr Klaus Hellgardt

SOLAR HYDROGEN: Photoelectrochemical Reactor Design

INTRODUCTION

SMR3

tC/tH2

Elec-trol-ysis

8 tC/tH2

Other

Benefits

Fossil fuel reliance

Green house gases

Abundant resources

Durable & low maintenance

Energy security

H2 O2

H2 O2

PHOTO-ANODE

CATHODE

H2

O2

240mm

210mm

70mm

100mm 100mm

1.23 eV

0.6 eV

0.4 eV

0.1 eV

Theoretical water decomposition energy

Eg = 2.3 eVTh

eore

tical

Ove

rpot

entia

l

Reco

mbi

natio

n

Design flexible test-bed reactor

- 10 x 10cm photoanode

- Photon absorption

- Quantum efficiency

- High mass transfer rate coefficients

- Separate hydrogen and oxygen

Hydrogen production

experiments

- Semiconductor material

- Electrode configuration

WORK TO DATE

Good absorptionStable in alkaliRecombination

Stable in acid/alkaliUV absorption only

Good efficiencyStable in acid

Fe2O3

TiO2 WO3

titanium PVDF

quartz

Butler-Volmer equation

Curr

ent d

ensi

ty (A

/m2 )

Overpotential (V)

Kinetic control

Transport control

Increasing mass transport rate

PHOTO-ANODE

CATHODE

FUTURE WORK

PHOTOANODE

PHOTOANODE

LIGHT

quartz window

membrane

cathode

electrolyte

Set Up Reactor

Electrical connections

Hydrogen extraction system

Evaluate reactor design

Experiments

Semiconductors / electrolyte

Electrode configuration

Multiple electrodes

Temperature

Analyse Results

Quantify H2 production

Optimise reactor design

Deliver

report

THANK YOU

QUESTIONS?