Decoupled catalytic hydrogen evolution from a molecular metal oxide redox mediator in water splitting

Rausch, B., Symes, M. D. , Chisholm, G. and Cronin, L. (2014) Decoupled catalytic hydrogen evolution from a molecular metal oxide redox mediator in water splitting. Science, 345(6202), pp. 1326-1330. (doi: 10.1126/science.1257443)

Abstract

The electrolysis of water using renewable energy inputs is being actively pursued as a route to sustainable hydrogen production. Here we introduce a recyclable redox mediator (silicotungstic acid) that enables the coupling of low-pressure production of oxygen via water oxidation to a separate, catalytic hydrogen production step outside the electrolyzer that requires no post-electrolysis energy input. This approach sidesteps the production of high-pressure gases inside the electrolytic cell (a major cause of membrane degradation) and essentially eliminates the hazardous issue of product gas crossover at the low current densities that characterize renewables-driven water-splitting devices. We demonstrated that a platinum-catalyzed system can produce pure hydrogen over 30 times faster than state-of-the-art proton exchange membrane electrolyzers at equivalent platinum loading.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Chisholm, Dr Greig and Symes, Professor Mark and Cronin, Professor Lee
• Authors: Rausch, B., Symes, M. D., Chisholm, G., and Cronin, L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Chemistry
• Journal Name: Science
• Publisher: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• ISSN: 0036-8075
• ISSN (Online): 1095-9203