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14 pages, 4451 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Application of Silver Nanoparticles Supported over Mesoporous Carbon Produced from Sustainable Sources as Catalysts for Hydrogen Production

by Erik Biehler, Qui Quach and Tarek M. Abdel-Fattah

Energies 2024, 17(13), 3327; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133327 - 7 Jul 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 915

Abstract

The growing population and increasingly competitive economic climate have increased the demand for alternative fuel sources, with hydrogen being one of the more viable options. Many metal hydrides, including sodium borohydride, are capable of releasing hydrogen stored within chemical bonds when reacted with [...] Read more.

The growing population and increasingly competitive economic climate have increased the demand for alternative fuel sources, with hydrogen being one of the more viable options. Many metal hydrides, including sodium borohydride, are capable of releasing hydrogen stored within chemical bonds when reacted with water, but the rate of generation is slow and therefore necessitates a catalyst. Silver nanoparticles, which were chosen due to their known catalytic activity, were synthesized from sodium citrate and were embedded in mesoporous carbon to form a nano-composite catalyst (Ag-MCM). This composite was characterized via Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS). Catalytic testing showed that the catalytic activity for the Ag-MCM catalyst increased with increasing NaBH₄ concentration, low pH, and high temperatures. The Ag-MCM catalyst resulted in the activation energy at 15.6 kJ mol⁻¹, making it one of the lowest seen activation energies for inorganic catalysts. Lastly, the Ag-MCM catalysts showed stability, producing, on average, 20.0 mL per trial for five consecutive trials. This catalytic ability along with the cheap, carbon-based backbone that is made from readily available corn starch, makes it a promising catalyst for the hydrolysis of NaBH₄. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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23 pages, 2765 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A SWOT Analysis of the Green Hydrogen Market

by Francisco L. D. Simões and Diogo M. F. Santos

Energies 2024, 17(13), 3114; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133114 - 24 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2169

Abstract

Since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has heavily depended on fossil fuels. Recognizing the negative environmental impacts of the unmoderated consumption of fossil fuels, including global warming and consequent climate change, new plans and initiatives have been established to implement renewable and sustainable energy [...] Read more.

Since the Industrial Revolution, humanity has heavily depended on fossil fuels. Recognizing the negative environmental impacts of the unmoderated consumption of fossil fuels, including global warming and consequent climate change, new plans and initiatives have been established to implement renewable and sustainable energy sources worldwide. This has led to a rapid increase in the installed solar and wind energy capacity. However, considering the fluctuating nature of these renewable energy sources, green hydrogen has been proposed as a suitable energy carrier to improve the efficiency of energy production and storage. Thus, green hydrogen, produced by water electrolysis using renewable electricity, is a promising solution for the future energy market. Moreover, it has the potential to be used for the decarbonization of the heavy industry and transportation sectors. Research and development (R&D) on green hydrogen has grown considerably over the past few decades, aiming to maximize production and expand its market share. The present work uses a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis to evaluate the current status of the green hydrogen market. The external and internal factors that affect its market position are assessed. The results show that green hydrogen is on the right track to becoming a competitive alternative to fossil fuels soon. Supported by environmental benefits, government incentives, and carbon taxes, roadmaps to position green hydrogen on the energy map have been outlined. Nevertheless, increased investments are required for further R&D, as costs must be reduced and policies enforced. These measures will gradually decrease global dependency on fossil fuels and ensure that roadmaps are followed through. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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15 pages, 1264 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Hydrogen Storage in Porous Rocks: A Bibliometric Analysis of Research Trends

by Barbara Uliasz-Misiak, Jacek Misiak and Joanna Lewandowska-Śmierzchalska

Energies 2024, 17(4), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17040805 - 7 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1638

Abstract

Currently, there is an increasing number of research studies on underground storage of hydrogen in porous rocks (aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon fields). An important aspect of this process is the efficiency of hydrogen storage, which is defined as the correct operation of a [...] Read more.

Currently, there is an increasing number of research studies on underground storage of hydrogen in porous rocks (aquifers and depleted hydrocarbon fields). An important aspect of this process is the efficiency of hydrogen storage, which is defined as the correct operation of a storage facility (the ability to inject and withdraw an appropriate quantity of gas) and the safety of storage, which is influenced by numerous factors, including geological factors. With an increasing number of publications, gathering knowledge and keeping track of scientific progress is becoming increasingly complex. In addition to the technical interdependence of the parameters analysed, there are also interrelationships between scientific publications addressing issues related to underground hydrogen storage in porous rocks. The aim of this paper is to analyse the literature on hydrogen storage efficiency in porous rocks and, on the basis of the analysis, to identify the most important research trends and issues relevant to their implementation. This article presents an analysis of publications indexed in the SCOPUS database. The analysis included publications that contained expressions related to the relevant search phrases in their title, abstract or keywords. The dynamics of changes in the interest of researchers on the problem of hydrogen storage in porous rocks and the distribution of studies by geographical location (countries) are presented. Based on an analysis of the number of citations, the most influential publications were identified. Using the VOSviewer version 1.6.19 software, clusters reflecting research sub-areas were identified based on co-occurrence analysis, such as geological and reservoir aspects, reservoir engineering aspects, hydrogeological aspects and petrophysical aspects. Bibliometric methods have great potential for performing quantitative confirmation of subjectively delineated research fields and/or examining unexplored areas. The literature on underground hydrogen storage in porous rocks has been growing rapidly since at least 2018, with researchers conducting their studies in four major research streams: geological and reservoir aspects, reservoir engineering aspects, hydrogeological aspects and petrophysical aspects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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12 pages, 868 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

A Surrogate Model of the Butler-Volmer Equation for the Prediction of Thermodynamic Losses of Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Electrode

by Szymon Buchaniec, Marek Gnatowski, Hiroshi Hasegawa and Grzegorz Brus

Energies 2023, 16(15), 5651; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16155651 - 27 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1566

Abstract

Solid oxide fuel cells are becoming increasingly important in various applications, from households to large-scale power plants. However, these electrochemical energy conversion devices have complex behavior that is difficult to understand and optimize. A numerical simulation is a primary tool for analysis and [...] Read more.

Solid oxide fuel cells are becoming increasingly important in various applications, from households to large-scale power plants. However, these electrochemical energy conversion devices have complex behavior that is difficult to understand and optimize. A numerical simulation is a primary tool for analysis and optimization-design. One of the most significant challenges in this field is improving microscale transport phenomena and electrode reaction models. Two main categories of simulation are black-box and white-box models. The former requires large experimental datasets and lacks physical constraints, while the latter inherits the inaccuracy of typical electrochemical reaction models. Here we show a micro-scale artificial neural network-supported numerical simulation that allows for overcoming those issues. In our research, we substituted one equation in the system, an electrochemical model, with an artificial neural network prediction. The data-driven prediction is constrained and must satisfy all reminded balance equations in the system. The results show that the proposed model can simulate an anode-electrode’s thermodynamic losses with improved accuracy compared with the classical approach. The coefficient of determination

R^{2}

for the proposed model was equal to 0.8810 for 800 °C, 0.8720 for 900 °C, and 0.8436 for 1000 °C. The findings open a way for improving the accuracy and computational complexity of electrochemical models in solid oxide fuel cell simulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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13 pages, 3058 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Microstructure and First Hydrogenation Properties of Ti₁₆V₆₀Cr_24−xFe_x + 4 wt.% Zr Alloy for x = 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24

by Francia Ravalison and Jacques Huot

Energies 2023, 16(14), 5360; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16145360 - 14 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1288

Abstract

In body-centered cubic (BCC) alloys of transition elements, elemental addition or substitution in the vanadium-based alloys can be beneficial for improving the hydrogen storage properties and for reducing the production cost. In this context, the current study focused on the effect of the [...] Read more.

In body-centered cubic (BCC) alloys of transition elements, elemental addition or substitution in the vanadium-based alloys can be beneficial for improving the hydrogen storage properties and for reducing the production cost. In this context, the current study focused on the effect of the substitution of Cr by Fe in Ti₁₆V₆₀Cr_24−xFe_x + 4 wt.% Zr alloys where x = 0, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24. The microstructure of each alloy was composed of a matrix having a chemical composition close to the nominal one and a Zr-rich region. From X-ray diffraction patterns, it was found that the matrix has a BCC structure, and the Zr-rich regions present the C14 Laves phase structure. The lattice parameter of BCC phases decreased linearly with x, in accordance with Vegard’s law. The measurement of the first hydrogenation at 298 K under 3 MPa of hydrogen revealed a decrease in the maximum hydrogen capacity: 3.8 wt.% for x = 0, 3.1 wt.% for x = 4 and around 2 wt.% for x = 8 to 24. The XRD patterns after hydrogenation showed a BCT phase for all alloys, with a C14 phase for x = 4, 8, 12 and with C14 and C15 for x = 16, 20 and 24. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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12 pages, 3289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Silver-Nanoparticle-Decorated Fused Carbon Sphere Composite as a Catalyst for Hydrogen Generation

by Erik Biehler, Qui Quach and Tarek M. Abdel-Fattah

Energies 2023, 16(13), 5053; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16135053 - 29 Jun 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 1557

Abstract

The dwindling supply of fossil fuels has resulted in a search for an efficient alternative energy source. Hydrogen gas offers an abundant, clean-burning supply of energy that can be readily produced over time via the water-splitting reaction of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). [...] Read more.

The dwindling supply of fossil fuels has resulted in a search for an efficient alternative energy source. Hydrogen gas offers an abundant, clean-burning supply of energy that can be readily produced over time via the water-splitting reaction of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄). This study explored the synthesis of a novel catalyst comprised of silver nanoparticles supported on fused carbon spheres (AgNP-FCS). This composite catalyst was then tested for its ability to optimize the hydrolysis reaction of NaBH₄. The fused carbon spheres (FCS) were synthesized via a sustainable source, namely a dextrose solution. The synthesized AgNP-FCS catalyst was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The average diameter of silver nanoparticles on the catalyst was found to be 30 nm with 3.7% loading. This catalyst was tested under various reaction conditions, including temperatures, doses of NaBH₄, and solution pHs. The activation energy of the reaction as catalyzed by AgNP-FCS was determined to be 37.0 kJ mol⁻¹, which was competitive when compared to similar catalysts for this reaction. A study of the reusability of this catalyst suggests that the catalyst can be used multiple times consecutively with no loss in hydrogen generated. This material presents an opportunity for a sustainable catalyst to optimize the amount of hydrogen generated via the hydrolysis of NaBH₄. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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17 pages, 4266 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Performance of Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Water Electrolysis Systems: Configuration, Stack Materials, Turndown and Efficiency

by Xiaohua Wang, Andrew G. Star and Rajesh K. Ahluwalia

Energies 2023, 16(13), 4964; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16134964 - 26 Jun 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3540

Abstract

A cell model is developed and validated to analyze the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) stacks and systems. It is used to characterize the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity on a TiO₂-supported IrO₂ catalyst and an unsupported [...] Read more.

A cell model is developed and validated to analyze the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) stacks and systems. It is used to characterize the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) activity on a TiO₂-supported IrO₂ catalyst and an unsupported IrO₂ powder catalyst. Electrochemical, stack, and system thermoneutral potentials are defined and determined for isothermal and non-isothermal stack operation. Conditions are determined under which the system thermoneutral potential or flammability of H₂ in the O₂ anode stream limits the stack turndown and operating temperature. Performance is analyzed of a complete PEMWE system with an electrolyzer stack containing an IrO₂/TiO₂ anode catalyst (2 mg/cm² Ir loading) and N117-like membrane mitigated for H₂ crossover, anode balance-of-plant (BOP) components, cathode BOP system with temperature swing adsorption for H₂ purification, and electrical BOP system with transformer and rectifier. At the rated power condition, defined as 2 A/cm² at 1.9 V, 80 °C, and 30 bar H₂ pressure, the stack/system efficiency is 65.3%/60.3% at beginning of life (BOL), decreasing to 59.3%/53.9% at end of life (EOL). The peak stack/system efficiency is 76.3%/70.2% at BOL, decreasing to 71.2%/65.6% at EOL. Improvements in catalyst activity and membrane are identified for a 50% increase in current to 3 A/cm² at 1.8 V. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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21 pages, 2195 KiB

Open AccessPerspective

Hydrogen and the Global Energy Transition—Path to Sustainability and Adoption across All Economic Sectors

by Praveen Cheekatamarla

Energies 2024, 17(4), 807; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17040807 - 8 Feb 2024

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2432

Abstract

This perspective article delves into the critical role of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the context of the ongoing global energy transition. Hydrogen, with its potential to decarbonize various sectors, has emerged as a key player in achieving decarbonization and energy [...] Read more.

This perspective article delves into the critical role of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the context of the ongoing global energy transition. Hydrogen, with its potential to decarbonize various sectors, has emerged as a key player in achieving decarbonization and energy sustainability goals. This article provides an overview of the current state of hydrogen technology, its production methods, and its applications across diverse industries. By exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with hydrogen integration, we aim to shed light on the pathways toward achieving a sustainable hydrogen economy. Additionally, the article underscores the need for collaborative efforts among policymakers, industries, and researchers to overcome existing hurdles and unlock the full potential of hydrogen in the transition to a low-carbon future. Through a balanced analysis of the present landscape and future prospects, this perspective article aims to contribute valuable insights to the discourse surrounding hydrogen’s role in the global energy transition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Element 1 for Sustainable Decarbonization and Net-Zero Economy: Progress in Generation, Storage, Distribution and End-Use Technologies)

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