The development of inexpensive electrocatalysts for the production and oxidation of hydrogen will play a vital role in future energy storage and delivery systems. The generation of hydrogen from non-fossil energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and nuclear energy is one approach being considered for storing the electrical energy generated by these sources for transportation and other uses that are not temporally matched to electrical energy production. In the reverse process, in which fuels are used to produce electricity, it is recognized that fuel cells have significant thermodynamic advantages in terms of energy efficiency compared to internal combustion engines and other Carnot processes. Both fuel generation and fuel utilization require electrocatalysts for efficient interconversion of electrical energy and chemical energy. This work was supported by the US Department of Energy Basic Energy Sciences' Chemical Sciences, Geosciences & Biosciences Division. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.
Revised: December 17, 2010 |
Published: November 1, 2010
Citation
Rakowski DuBois M., and D.L. DuBois. 2010.A Modular Approach to the Development of Molecular Electrocatalysts for H2 Oxidation and Production Based on Inexpensive Metals. In Catalysis without Precious Metals, edited by RM Bullock. 165-180. Hoboken, New Jersey:John Wiley & Sons, Inc.PNNL-SA-70357.