Numerical 3D Model of a Novel Photoelectrolysis Tandem Cell with Solid Electrolyte for Green Hydrogen Production

• Published in: Energies (Basel) Vol. 16; no. 4; p. 1953
• Main Authors: Giacoppo, Giosuè, Trocino, Stefano, Lo Vecchio, Carmelo, Baglio, Vincenzo, Díez-García, María I., Aricò, Antonino Salvatore, Barbera, Orazio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.02.2023
• Subjects: Alternative energy sources; Analysis; Carbon dioxide; Design; Efficiency; Electric power; Electrodes; Electrolysis; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Emissions; Energy resources; Energy sources; Energy storage; Force and energy; Green hydrogen; Greenhouse effect; Greenhouse gases; hematite photoanode; Hydrogen; Hydrogen production; Mathematical models; metal oxide semiconductor; Metal oxide semiconductors; numerical model; Numerical models; photoelectrochemical tandem cell; Photoelectrochemistry; Photoelectrolysis; Prototypes; Radiation; Renewable energy sources; Renewable resources; Semiconductors; Solar energy; solid electrolyte membrane; Solid electrolytes; Storage capacity; Sustainability; Sustainable use
• ISSN: 1996-1073; 1996-1073
• DOI: 10.3390/en16041953

The only strategy for reducing fossil fuel-based energy sources is to increase the use of sustainable ones. Among renewable energy sources, solar energy can significantly contribute to a sustainable energy future, but its discontinuous nature requires a large storage capacity. Due to its ability to be produced from primary energy sources and transformed, without greenhouse gas emissions, into mechanical, thermal, and electrical energy, emitting only water as a by-product, hydrogen is an effective carrier and means of energy storage. Technologies for hydrogen production from methane, methanol, hydrocarbons, and water electrolysis using non-renewable electrical power generate CO2. Conversely, employing photoelectrochemistry to harvest hydrogen is a sustainable technique for sunlight-direct energy storage. Research on photoelectrolysis is addressed to materials, prototypes, and simulation studies. From the latter point of view, models have mainly been implemented for aqueous-electrolyte cells, with only one semiconductor-based electrode and a metal-based counter electrode. In this study, a novel cell architecture was numerically modelled. A numerical model of a tandem cell with anode and cathode based on metal oxide semiconductors and a polymeric membrane as an electrolyte was implemented and investigated. Numerical results of 11% solar to hydrogen conversion demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed novel concept.