UNSW research solves critical electrolyzer bottleneck in green hydrogen production
In Australia, pv Magazine reported that University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney researchers have used precise 3D imaging to show how trapped bubbles affect the efficacy of electrolyzers in the production of green hydrogen.
The research addresses a critical bottleneck in industrial-scale electrolyzers, where hydrogen bubbles are generated in the electrolyzer during the operation and accumulate on the porous electrode, blocking reaction sites and limiting mass transport at high current densities, according to the report.
UNSW School of Civil and Environmental Engineering (SCEE) Professor Payman Mostaghimi said the researchers found that the shape and structure of the porous electrode are just as important as the electrochemistry.
“If the structure is designed properly, you can stop bubbles from clogging the system and make it much more efficient,” Mostaghimi said.
X-ray imaging simulations to look inside the porous structures provided researchers unique access to observe gas bubble behavior over time, without taking the cell apart, according to the report.
“When water is split, we found tiny hydrogen and oxygen bubbles get trapped inside the electrode, blocking the reaction sites and slowing the movement of water and ions, effectively starving the catalyst of fresh water,” Mostaghimi said.
Category: Research
