Two-step thermochemical electrolysis: An approach for green hydrogen production

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Mathias Pein - , Chair of Solar Fuel Production, German Aerospace Center (DLR) (Author)
  • Nicole Carina Neumann - , German Aerospace Center (DLR) (Author)
  • Luke J. Venstrom - , German Aerospace Center (DLR), Valparaiso University (Author)
  • Josua Vieten - , German Aerospace Center (DLR) (Author)
  • Martin Roeb - , German Aerospace Center (DLR) (Author)
  • Christian Sattler - , Chair of Solar Fuel Production, German Aerospace Center (DLR) (Author)

Abstract

Electrolysis and thermochemical water splitting are approaches to produce green hydrogen that use either an electrical potential (electrolysis) or a chemical potential (thermochemical water splitting) to split water. Electrolysis is technologically mature when applied at low temperatures, but it requires large quantities of electrical energy. In contrast to electrolysis, thermochemical water splitting uses thermal energy, as thermal energy can typically be supplied at a lower unit cost than electrical energy using concentrating solar power. Thermochemical water splitting, however, typically suffers from high thermal losses at the extremely high process temperatures required, substantially increasing the total energy required. We show how, by combining electrical and chemical potentials, a novel and cost-efficient water splitting process can be envisioned that overcomes some of the challenges faced by conventional electrolysis and thermochemical water splitting. It uses a mixed ionic and electronic conducting perovskite with temperature-dependent oxygen non-stoichiometry as an anode in an electrolyzer. If solar energy is used as the primary source of all energy required in the process, the cost of the energy required to produce hydrogen could be lower than in high-temperature electrolysis by up to 7%.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)24909-24918
Number of pages10
JournalInternational journal of hydrogen energy
Volume46
Issue number49
Publication statusPublished - 16 Jul 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Electrolysis, Green hydrogen, Solar fuel, Thermochemical cycle, Water splitting