Development of the electric cell with hydrogen permeable metal membrane for rapid hydrogenation through the electrolysis of water

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05206
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 27020:Chemical reaction and process system engineering-related
• Research Institution: Utsunomiya University
• Principal Investigator: Sato Takafumi 宇都宮大学, 工学部, 教授 (60375524)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 伊藤 直次 宇都宮大学, 工学部, 教授 (90356478)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 水電解 / 水素 / 水素透過膜 / パラジウム膜 / 水素化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

An electrolysis cell with a larger membrane surface area and shorter electrode distance using a palladium-silver membrane as a cathode electrode was developed. Water electrolysis with a potassium hydroxide aqueous solution revealed that hydrogen production by electrolysis on the membrane and purification of hydrogen by hydrogen permeation through the membrane. By improving the internal structure of the cell such as the method of supplying current to the membrane, a water electrolysis device that operates at lower voltage and higher current compared to the previous cell was constructed. Furthermore, the hydrogenation of toluene to methylcyclohexane via water electrolysis was performed by placing supported metal catalysts inside the device.

Free Research Field

膜反応工学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

水電解による水素製造および水素化は、再生可能エネルギー由来の電力を資源量が豊富な水を利用し、貯蔵や輸送が可能な水素やケミカルハイドライドに変換する水素エネルギー関連にて重要なプロセスである。本研究は金属水素透過膜を電極として利用することを確かにすることにより水素製造、水素精製、水素化を同一装置で一度に行うことを意図しており、狭小地での水素製造や水素化によるケミカルハイドライド合成を可能とすることで、分散型社会に適合したエネルギー供給システムの発展に寄与するものである。