Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Nine years of research and development on advanced water electrolysis. A review of the research programme of the Commission of the European Communities

  • Reviews of Applied Electrochemistry 17
  • Published:
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The development of advanced water electrolysis was one of the main tasks of the R & D programme on hydrogen funded, within its main R & D programme on Energy, by the Commission of the European Communities. Most of the work has been concentrated on the development of alkaline water electrolysis, as this process appears particularly promising. (Water electrolysis based on ‘acidic’ solid polymer electrolytes, developed during the last 10 years, seems to be a potentially attractive alternative technology, at least for electrolysers of smaller scale (up to 100kW). Even at this size, however, there is not yet evidence of any overall economic advantage over advanced alkaline cells.)

The results of 9 years of R & D in this field are critically examined, by reviewing the improvements achieved on the components of the electrolytic cell as well as the overall modification of the cell design. The anode, cathode and diaphragm have been the components investigated, but also the constituent materials, the nature of the electrolyte and its operating conditions have been dealt with. Three main lines of advanced electrolyser development were identified in the course of these investigations. The corresponding charcteristics are:

  1. (i)

    low temperature (70°C to 90°C), low current density (i=0.1–0.3 A cm−2);

  2. (ii)

    moderate temperature (<120°C), high current density (i up to 1 A cm−2), medium pressure (5–10 bars);

  3. (iii)

    medium temperature (120–160°C), high current density (i=1–2 A cm−2), moderately high pressure (30 bars).

In cell design, very compact cell units have been devised, in which a ‘zero gap’ configuration (anode and cathode are placed directly on the diaphragm) is generally adopted, resulting in very low internal cell resistance (about 0.2 Ω cm2). Potential energy savings of 20 to 30% can be anticipated for the advanced electrolysis.

In addition to this work on advanced alkaline water electrolysis, some limited research efforts on high temperature (>1100 K) water vapour electrolysis have been made and are reported. The latter work has been concentrated on the production of thin-layer doped zirconia solid electrolytes (d=50μm), potentially leading to high performance cells. The economic implications of high-temperature vapour electrolysis, however, cannot be judged at the present status of development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. B. B. Tilak, B. W. T. Lin, I. E. Colman and S. Srinivasan, in ‘Comprehensive Treatise of Electrochemsitry’, Vol. 2 (Edited by J. O'M. Bockris, B. E. Conway, E. Yeager and R. E. White), Plenum Press (1981) pp. 1, 166.

  2. D. H. Smith, in ‘Industrial Electrochemical Processes’, (Edited by A. T. Kuhn), Elsevier, Amsterdam (1971) pp. 127, 156.

    Google Scholar 

  3. C. Bailleux, A. Damine and A. Moutet,Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 8 (1983) 529, 538.

    Google Scholar 

  4. JANAF, Thermochemical Tables, 2nd edn, NSRDS-N BS 37 (1971).

  5. V. Plzak and H. Wendt,Electrochim. Acta 28 (1983) 27.

    Google Scholar 

  6. W. Doenitz, R. Schmidberger, E. Steinheil and R. Streicher,Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 5 (1980) 55.

    Google Scholar 

  7. T. N. Veziroglu, W. D. van Vorst and J. H. Kelly (eds), ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1.

  8. G. Imarisio and A. S. Strub (eds), Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983).

  9. M. Prigent and T. Nenner, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 299.

  10. M. Prigent, L. Martin, T. Nenner and M. Roux, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 256.

  11. T. Nenner and A. Fahrasmane, ‘Nouveau Diaphragm pour Électrolyseur’, EUR 8029/FR.

  12. L. D. Burke, M. E. Lyons and M. McCarthy, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 267.

  13. Idem, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 128.

  14. L. I. I. Janssen, S. O. van Stralen and E. Barendrecht, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 309.

  15. B. E. Bongenaar-Schlenter, L. I. M. Konings, C. I. Smeyers, I. H. G. Verbunt, E. Barendrecht, L. I. I. Janssen, W. M. Sluyter and S. J. D. van Stralen, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 206.

  16. P. Rasiyah and A. C. C. Tseung, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 383.

  17. Idem, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 110.

  18. I. Divisek, P. Malinowski and I. Mergel, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 437.

  19. Idem, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 244.

  20. I. P. Pompon, I. L. Thiriot, P. Belle and S. Alquiers, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 193.

  21. R. D. Giles, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 279.

  22. Idem, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 171.

  23. R. A. I. Dams and T. P. Smith, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 117.

  24. H. Vandenborre, R. Leysen, H. Nackaerts and Ph. van Asbroeck, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 106.

  25. H. Vandenborre, R. Leysen, H. Nackaerts, Ph. van Asbroek and I. Piepers, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 139.

  26. P. Combrade, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 355.

  27. Idem, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 183.

  28. R. Dick and P. Faye, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 330.

  29. G. Fiori and C. M. Mari, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 291.

  30. Idem, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 102.

  31. L. Giuffré, G. Modica, E. Montoneri and E. Tempesti, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 319.

  32. Idem, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 320.

  33. B. Roz, T. Nenner and M. Roux, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 160.

  34. T. Nenner and A. Fahrasme, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 257.

  35. Idem, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 295.

  36. J. Fischer, H. Hofmann, G. Luft and H. Wendt,AIChE J. 26 (1980) 794.

    Google Scholar 

  37. H. Hofmann, V. Plzak and H. Wendt, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 407.

  38. H. Wendt, H. Hofmann and H. Berg, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 267.

  39. H. Wendt and H. Hofmann, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 286.

  40. H. Wendt, H. Hofmann and V. Plzak, in ‘The Chemistry and Physics of Electrocatalysis’ (edited by J. D. E. McIntyre, M. I. Weaver and E. B. Yeager), Electrochem. Soc., Pennington USA (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  41. J. C. Viguié and H. Bernard, in ‘Hydrogen as an Energy Vector’, Proc. Int. Seminar, Brussels, 12–14 Feb. 1980 (edited by A. S. Strub and G. Imarisio), D. Reidel Publishing Co. (1980).

  42. G. Dietrich and W. Schaefer, in ‘Hydrogen Energy Progress-IV’, Proc. of the 4th World Hydrogen Energy Conference, Pasadena, USA, 13–17 June 1982, Pergamon Press (1982) Vol. 1, p. 419.

  43. W. Doenitz and E. Erdle, in ‘Elektrochemische Energieumwandlung einschliesslich Speicherung’, Dechema Monographien, Vol. 92, Nr. 1885–1915, (edited by W. Vielstich), Verlag Chemie (1982) p. 323.

  44. J. C. Viguie and E. I. L. Schouler, in Hydrogen as an energy carrier, Proc. 3rd International Seminar, Lyon, 25–27 May 1983, D. Reidel (1983), p. 228.

  45. S. Trasatti, ‘Hydrogen as an Energy Carrier’ (edited by G. Imarisio and A. S. Strub), D. Reidel Publishing Co. (1983) p. 220.

  46. L. Helmet, H. Mezgolits, I. Prassner, A. Schall and W. Stockmans, Report EUR 9500 EN, Comm. Europ. Comm. (ed.), Luxembourg (1985).

  47. H. Vandenborre, Report EUR 10775 EN, Comm. Europ. Comm. (ed.), Luxembourg.

  48. P. Glynne, Report EUR 10290 EN, Comm. Europ. Comm. (ed.), Luxembourg (1986).

  49. J. Fischer and G. Luft,Chem. Ing. Techn. 57 (1985) 614.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Chemische Technologie, TH Darmstadt, D-6100, Darmstadt, FRG

    Hartmut Wendt

  2. Commission of the European Communities, DG XII, B-1049, Brussels, Belgium

    Giancarlo Imarisio

Authors
  1. Hartmut Wendt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Giancarlo Imarisio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wendt, H., Imarisio, G. Nine years of research and development on advanced water electrolysis. A review of the research programme of the Commission of the European Communities. J Appl Electrochem 18, 1–14 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016198

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01016198

Keywords

Search

Navigation