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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics
Effectiveness Of Different Materials As Catalysts For Alkaline Water Electrolysis, Lance T. Bartol, James Doyle
Effectiveness Of Different Materials As Catalysts For Alkaline Water Electrolysis, Lance T. Bartol, James Doyle
Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy
We tested the catalytic properties of various nickel and molybdenum electrodes as potential replacements for platinum for usage in alkaline water electrolysis. After initial tests found molybdenum-based electrodes to be significantly more effective than nickel electrodes, we moved to calculate overpotentials. We found nickel electrode overpotentials at ± 10 mA current to be 939 and -960 mV. Conversely, molybdenum electrode overpotentials at the same currents were 244 and -681 mV respectively. While still significantly higher than overpotentials for platinum, these results indicate that, with more testing, molybdenum-based electrodes could eventually emerge as a cheaper, more abundant alternative to platinum electrodes.
Electrical Grid Energy Storage Using Hydrogen: A Feasibility Study, Elizabeth M. Curtiss
Electrical Grid Energy Storage Using Hydrogen: A Feasibility Study, Elizabeth M. Curtiss
Macalester Journal of Physics and Astronomy
In this project, we studied the possibility of implementing hydrogen as energy storage. With the focus being on decarbonizing the grid, we looked at studies that were powered by renewable sources. In addition to utilizing renewable sources, we decided to study electrolysis as a way to produce hydrogen. Electrolysis is the splitting of water to obtain hydrogen and oxygen, which is a carbon free technique. Pulling from two different papers, we were able to construct an equation that modeled the levelized cost of producing hydrogen. We also calculated the levelized cost of a fuel cell too, with hydrogen as fuel. …