Development and Economic Analysis of High-Current-Density Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Water Electrolysis

doi:10.15541/jim20250012

Abstract

Abstract: Alkaline water electrolysis faces challenges of low efficiency and high costs due to its relatively low current density. It is necessary to develop efficient and stable non-precious metal electrocatalysts under high current densities. In this study, an amorphous NiMoOP/NF electrocatalyst was fabricated by the hydrothermal method combined with phosphorization on a Nickel Foam (NF) substrate. The amorphous needle-like morphology effectively increases active sites and enhances the stability of hydrogen production through water electrolysis. At current densities of 10 and 1000 mA·cm^-2, the hydrogen evolution overpotentials were 31 and 370 mV, respectively, and the catalyst stably ran for 1100 h at a high current density of 1 A·cm^-2. The NiMoOP/NF material, when integrated with crystalline silicon heterojunction solar cells for overall water splitting, achieves a theoretical solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of up to 18.6%. Under industrially relevant conditions (60 ℃, 30%(in mass) KOH electrolyte), the electrolysis voltage was 1.77 V, enabling a current density of 400 mA·cm^-2, with a hydrogen production energy consumption of 4.19 kWh·Nm^-3(Nm³: Normal cubic meter). Economic analysis of photovoltaic-powered hydrogen production via electrolysis indicates that the minimum hydrogen production cost for an off-grid, non-storage photovoltaic hydrogen production system is ¥28.52 kg^-1. The amorphous nanoneedle-like materials developed in this study significantly enhanced both the hydrogen evolution activity and stability during water electrolysis, providing valuable insights for the design of high-current-density hydrogen evolution catalysts. Furthermore, the combined economic analysis of photovoltaic electrolysis for green hydrogen production supports advancement of green hydrogen industry.

Key words: water electrolysis for hydrogen production, amorphous design, high current density, economic analysis, levelized cost of hydrogen

CLC Number:

TQ116

YU Zelong, TANG Chun, RAO Jiahao, GUO Heng, ZHOU Ying. Development and Economic Analysis of High-Current-Density Electrocatalysts for Alkaline Water Electrolysis[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, DOI: 10.15541/jim20250012.

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