Hydrogen from Seawater Splitting : Technology and Outlook

Hydrogen is a key vector of decarbonized energy systems. It can be used as long term and seasonal storage for electricity itself, as well as in the automotive sector, for space heating and for the chemical industry.

In order to be sustainable, it is vital that hydrogen is generated without carbon emissions. One option is electrocatalysis, which uses electricity to split the water. Other options are photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical technologies that use impinging sunlight directly. Each technique has advantages and shortcomings, and different efficiencies, depending on a range of factors including the materials used.

This book provides overviews of the current technologies available for splitting hydrogen from seawater, and explores their benefits and disadvantages. Chapters cover materials, systems and challenges, electrocatalytic, photocatalytic, and photoelectrochemical techniques, functional compound semiconducting films, electrolysis of saline water, and two-dimensional nanomaterials for hydrogen generation. Finally, the editors share their informed view on the future outlook of the field.

Hydrogen from Seawater Splitting: Technology and outlook offers valuable insights for researchers in hydrogen technology and energy materials, exploring the current state-of-the-art and posing the key question of increasing efficiencies.

Abhijit Ray is an associate professor at the Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University, India, where he currently heads the Department of Solar Energy. Prior assignments included researcher at the Variable Energy Cyclotron Center in the Department of Atomic Energy, India, and visiting professor at Nagoya Institute of Technology, Japan. His research focuses on eco-friendly semiconducting thin films, nanostructures, and devices for photo-electrochemical energy conversions. He has published more than 100 papers and 5 Indian patents.

Malkeshkumar Patel is an adjunct professor at the Incheon National University, South Korea. His research interests include wafer-scale semiconductors including device physics, optoelectronic processes, and their applications in energy harvesting and other fields. Presently he is investigating multi-functional transparent photovoltaic systems and sustainable energy platforms.