- #1
synch
- 84
- 11
- TL;DR Summary
- Putting three electrodes in a cell might enable H2 production and energy storage in the same device?
Just floating an idea.
H2 production by electrolysis uses a lot of energy particularly as it usually produces oxygen as well. The energy required to produce the oxygen is usually wasted.
So, the idea is to have a cell that has a H2 production electrode as normal, but uses an opposite lead-oxide electrode to store the energy used, instead of bubbling oxygen off. So when current is pushed through the cell, hydrogen is evolved and the lead-oxide electrode charges as per ordinary lead-acid battery, storing energy in the lead-oxide reaction. This is fairly robust and would accept changeable energy availability, eg daytime solar/wind, and produces H2 for heating, cooking etc. This would typically take 2 or so volts.
The third electrode is a (eg) methanol electrode as typically used for a direct-methanol fuel cell. This is used as a counter electrode for the discharge of the lead oxide electrode. This would typically be suitable for a steady slow rate energy production, eg overnight, available for baseload and car charging etc. The theoretical potential would be the combined lead oxide and methanol cell potentials of course, I think the methanol reaction has a significant overpotential at reasonable current rates but most of the charging energy should be available on discharge.
Effectively the methanol reaction is used as an assistant The need for a finicky oxygen reduction electrode that is usually part of a methanol fuel cell is avoided.
The three electrodes would be in the electrolyte (sulfuric acid) presumably with the lead oxide electrode in the middle and the H2 and methanol electrodes on each side.
It seems to have a few synergies, then again I wonder if it would be cost-effective. As I say, just an idea.
H2 production by electrolysis uses a lot of energy particularly as it usually produces oxygen as well. The energy required to produce the oxygen is usually wasted.
So, the idea is to have a cell that has a H2 production electrode as normal, but uses an opposite lead-oxide electrode to store the energy used, instead of bubbling oxygen off. So when current is pushed through the cell, hydrogen is evolved and the lead-oxide electrode charges as per ordinary lead-acid battery, storing energy in the lead-oxide reaction. This is fairly robust and would accept changeable energy availability, eg daytime solar/wind, and produces H2 for heating, cooking etc. This would typically take 2 or so volts.
The third electrode is a (eg) methanol electrode as typically used for a direct-methanol fuel cell. This is used as a counter electrode for the discharge of the lead oxide electrode. This would typically be suitable for a steady slow rate energy production, eg overnight, available for baseload and car charging etc. The theoretical potential would be the combined lead oxide and methanol cell potentials of course, I think the methanol reaction has a significant overpotential at reasonable current rates but most of the charging energy should be available on discharge.
Effectively the methanol reaction is used as an assistant The need for a finicky oxygen reduction electrode that is usually part of a methanol fuel cell is avoided.
The three electrodes would be in the electrolyte (sulfuric acid) presumably with the lead oxide electrode in the middle and the H2 and methanol electrodes on each side.
It seems to have a few synergies, then again I wonder if it would be cost-effective. As I say, just an idea.
Last edited by a moderator:
