A photocatalyst-assisted electrolysis system, has been demonstrated to reduce energy consumption and provide stable operation for hydrogen production under intermittent light irradiation. In the photocatalyst-assisted electrolysis system cell, the photocatalyst, PtRu-WO3, stores solar energy as chemical energy via the formation of Fe3+ ions and O2 evolution during the daytime on the anolyte side; subsequently, hydrogen is produced through water electrolysis using the stored solar energy at night on the catholyte side. Simulated and natural solar energy was successfully stored by an energy-buffer system of photocatalyst/Fe2+/3+ ions for stable operation under dark conditions. Additionally, the operation of a large-scale photocatalyst-assisted electrolysis cell (light illumination area of 122.5 cm2) under natural sunlight irradiation was demonstrated. The hydrogen production efficiency was approximately ∼70 % higher than that of a conventional water electrolysis cell using the same electrical power.
This study was supported by the C1 Gas Refinery Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (2015M3D3A1A01064899); the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (RS-2023-00249042), and the institutional program of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST-2E31831). This research was supported by Learning & Academic research institution for Master's\u00B7PhD students, and Postdocs (LAMP) Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Education (No. RS-2023-00285390)This study was supported by the C1 Gas Refinery Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF), funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT, and Future Planning ( 2015M3D3A1A01064899 ); the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education ( RS-2023-00249042 ), and the institutional program of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST- 2E31831 ). This research was supported by Learning & Academic research institution for Master\u2019s\u00B7PhD students, and Postdocs (LAMP) Program of the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Ministry of Education (No. RS-2023-00285390 )
