Solar Hydrogen Reaching Maturity

Abstract

-Increasingly vast research efforts are devoted to the development of materials and processes for solar hydrogen production by light-driven dissociation of water into oxygen and hydrogen. Storage of solar energy in chemical bonds resolves the issues associated with the intermittent nature of sunlight, by decoupling energy generation and consumption. This paper investigates recent advances and prospects in solar hydrogen processes that are reaching market readiness. Future energy scenarios involving solar hydrogen are proposed and a case is made for systems producing hydrogen from water vapor present in air, supported by advanced modeling.Résumé -L'hydrogène solaire arrive à maturité -Des efforts toujours plus importants sont consacrés au développement de matériaux et de processus permettant la production d'hydrogène par dissociation d'eau utilisant l'énergie solaire. Le stockage d'énergie solaire par voie chimique résout les problèmes associés à la nature intermittente de cette ressource. La génération et la consommation d'énergie sont ainsi découplées. Cet article examine les récents progrès obtenus sur les processus permettant la production d'hydrogène solaire prêts pour commercialisation. Il propose également des scénarios énergétiques innovants utilisant l'hydrogène solaire. Enfin, un dispositif permettant la production d'hydrogène utilisant la vapeur d'eau présente dans l'air ambiant est étudié avec l'appui de la modélisation numérique.

Seawater-Mediated Solar-to-Sodium Conversion by Bismuth Vanadate Photoanode- Photovoltaic Tandem Cell: Solar Rechargeable Seawater Battery

“…However, this seawater battery charge needs high voltage, whereas the current density is a low priority, and photoanodes provide higher photovoltage than most known PV devices. We were able to operate completely bias-free, spontaneous solar charge of seawater battery for 8 h. However, for practical applications, it should be much longer than 10 years (Rongé et al., 2015). Previous studies on the stability of PEs for water oxidation demonstrated stability for less than 2,000 h (Sun et al., 2015, Zhou et al., 2016), and thus the stability issue should be addressed in further developments of PEC devices in addition to efficiency.…”

An integrated photoanode based on non-critical raw materials for robust solar water splitting

“…3,24 Consequently, several approaches of photo-and electrocatalyst/photovoltaic devices combinations have been designed and tested, leading to higher Solar-To-Fuel (STF) efficiencies, compared to their photoelectrochemical (PEC) counterparts based on photoactive electrodes, where the photovoltage is generated at the semiconductor-liquid junction (SCLJ). 25 As a relevant example, an unprecedented 17.5% STH efficiency has been recently reported for self-driven solar water-splitting, using a tandem PV-photocathode system. 26 From the technological point of view, compared to wired systems, the photovoltaic-electrocatalyst (PV-EC) integrated architectures where both components are intimately connected, offer a compact and less complex design for the realization of an ''artificial leaf'' for practical solar fuel production.…”

Stability of vapor phase water electrolysis cell with anion exchange membrane

“…Solar power is by far the biggest source of renewable energy available [1]. Capturing this solar energy and storing it in chemical bonds is acknowledged as a way to provide energy security [2]. Solar hydrogen generation fits well in this strategy [3], and it allows to store solar energy on a seasonal timespan [4,5].…”