In many (electro-)chemical processes, it is possible to form different products during a reaction, whereas what we want is for only the required product to be formed. Selectivity is an important criterion for how well a catalytic converter works. The discovery has implications for selectivity in electrolysis. That has radically changed our research direction. That did not even come to mind! In fact, it is a very basic, effective solution to a very complex problem. We assumed that it was purely a catalytic property of the material, but possible effects of diffusion barriers: the selective blocking of the transport of chloride ions. 'We originally had no idea why materials based on manganese oxide had such a high selectivity towards oxygen. The research sheds new light on a question in chemistry that has been going on for decades. That way, the large-scale application of water electrolysis and hydrogen in fuel cells will lead to large quantities of this ‘waste product’: pure water! In a future where water shortages become an ever more acute problem, this would certainly not be undesirable. 'If the extracted hydrogen gas is ultimately used as fuel, for example in a fuel cell of a car, the hydrogen reacts back to water with oxygen gas from the atmosphere. It would allow the direct production of hydrogen from seawater, thereby relieving the rare freshwater reserves on earth.Īccording to Vos, a useful side effect of salt water electrolysis is the production of very pure fresh water. This still costs a lot of energy and capital. An anode that counteracts the formation of chlorine gas enables water electrolysis where it is not necessary to first rid the water of dissolved salt. The electrolysis of water is an important step for the production and use of hydrogen as an alternative energy carrier. In this case, a second reaction can also occur during the electrolysis, in which the chlorine ions are converted into chlorine gas (Cl 2). In salt water, sodium chloride (NaCl) is present as dissolved sodium and chlorine ions (Na + and Cl -). In the desired reaction, liquid water (H 2O) splits into oxygen gas (O 2) and hydrogen gas (H 2). During the electrolysis of water, electricity is passed through the water to split it into other substances.
0 kommentar(er)
