Advanced electrolytic hydrogen production and isotope separation from alkaline electrolytes

摘要

We have investigated some important parameters for water electrolysis from alkalinesolutions, in order to optimize both hydrogen production and D/H isotope separation via thatprocess. Different electrode materials were investigated, either pure metals, like iron, nickeletc. or intermetallic compositions of some transition metals, as well as some ionic activators,added directly to the electrolyte. We have found that some combinations of activatingcompounds, like tris-(ethylenediamine)Co(III) chloride complex along with the sodiummolybdate, can reduce energy needs per mass unit of hydrogen produced for more than tenpercent in some cases, compared to those of non-activated electrolytes.The data were collected in a wide temperature range from about –20 to about +80 0 C, andarranged to show dependence of energy consumption on the current density and temperature.We found the energy saving properties of the TiPt cathode, if used in an activated electrolyte,being at the same level as Fe, usually used in commercial electrolyzers. The investigationindicated that all intermetallic materials used here, assuming in situ activation, might be betterin this view. That is to be proved, because such an order of our electrodes was not establishedin the activated but only in the standard electrolyte