One of the most promising renewable energy carriers is hydrogen. Hydrogen can be produced through several processes, and catalysis is integral to making these processes efficient and cost-effective.
1. Water Electrolysis: Electrolysis involves splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrical energy. Catalysts, such as platinum and iridium, are used to enhance the efficiency of this process. Researchers are also exploring more abundant and less expensive catalysts like nickel and cobalt.
2. Steam Methane Reforming (SMR): Although not entirely renewable, SMR is a dominant method for hydrogen production. The process involves reacting methane with steam at high temperatures in the presence of a nickel catalyst to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which is further converted to hydrogen and carbon dioxide.
3. Photocatalysis: This process utilizes sunlight to drive the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. Semiconductor materials like titanium dioxide (TiO2) are commonly used as photocatalysts. The development of more efficient and stable photocatalysts is a significant area of research.
