Development of Self-Repairing Water Electrolysis Catalysts via Spatiotemporal Control of Active Materials

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H02821
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 36010:Inorganic compounds and inorganic materials chemistry-related
• Research Institution: Yokohama National University
• Principal Investigator: Kuroda Yoshiyuki 横浜国立大学, 大学院工学研究院, 准教授 (50638640)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: アルカリ水電解 / 自己修復 / ナノシート / 酸素発生反応 / ハイブリッド材料

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the hydrogen production by alkaline water electrolysis powered by renewable energy, the degradation of electrodes due to start and stop of electrolysis is regarded as one of the most important problems. In this study, the self-repairing mechanisms and improvement of activities of self-repairing anode catalysts using a hybrid cobalt hydroxide nanosheet (Co-ns) were investigated. The self-repairing process of Co-ns is found to be a pseudo first-order process, in which the deposition rate depends on the concentration of dispersed Co-ns and electrode potential. Highly active self-repairing catalyst of beta-FeOOH nanorods were developed. The organic modification of Co-ns is useful to suppress the oxidation of Co2+ by dissolved oxygen to retain the self-repairing ability for a long period.

Free Research Field

無機材料化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

我が国が国策として目指すカーボンニュートラル、2050年のネットゼロエミッション実現に向け、化石燃料から再生可能エネルギーへの一次エネルギー転換が急務である。地域的、時間的な偏在性の高い再生可能エネルギーを有効利用するためには水電解による水素への転換が必要である。本技術は水電解装置の長寿命化、高効率化に寄与するものであり、水素の供給コスト低減に貢献することができる。水素の供給コストを低減し、石油や天然ガスとの価格競争力を持たせることで、水素社会の実現に近づくことが可能である。