Mediated water electrolysis in biphasic systems

Abstract

The concept of efficient electrolysis by linking photoelectrochemical biphasic H2 evolution and water oxidation processes in the cathodic and anodic compartments of an H-cell, respectively, is introduced. The concepts viability is demonstrated by electrochemical H2 production from water splitting utilising a polarised water–organic interface in a prototype H-cell.

Photo‐recycling the Sacrificial Electron Donor: Towards Sustainable Hydrogen Evolution in a Biphasic System

“…The choice of organic electrolyte anion is crucial; the organic anion must be very lipophilic such that protons preferentially transfer to the organic phase rather than the organic anion transferring to the aqueous phase. [19] The dark HER depicted using DcMFc can be replaced with a photo-driven HER using DcMRu in an alternative configuration. (ii) The single-phase dark water oxidation reaction can be replaced with a biphasic light-driven water oxidation reaction, as depicted in Scheme 1(ii), in an alternative configuration.…”

“…(ii) The single-phase dark water oxidation reaction can be replaced with a biphasic light-driven water oxidation reaction, as depicted in Scheme 1(ii), in an alternative configuration. [19] In this case, the lipophilic redox species X À is oxidised at the electrode surface, see Ref. [19] for more details.…”

“…[19] In this case, the lipophilic redox species X À is oxidised at the electrode surface, see Ref. [19] for more details. (iii) The potential required to pump electrons from the anodic to cathodic compartments is provided by renewable power sources (wind, solar hydro, etc.…”

“…A biphasic electrolysis H-cell configuration was designed to demonstrate this concept with DcMFc, see Scheme 2. [19] In this Communication, we introduce another closed loop strategy to photo-recycle the metallocenium cation after biphasic H 2 evolution. The concept is illustrated in Scheme 3 using DcMFc.…”

Development and applications of electrochemistry at soft interfaces and nanoparticles

“…One of the long-term objectives of our laboratory has been to develop new routes for what we call "batch water splitting" 19) using redox electrocatalysis at liquid-liquid interfaces.…”