Prof. Shen, from Advanced Energy Materials Research laboratory of Sun Yat-Sen University, has developed an innovative approach, as well as an economic way, to produce hydrogen by alcohol electrolysis. In this way, only 1/3 electricity consumption will be required compared to water electrolysis. 

The principle of the electrolysis of methanol is explained as follows. Methanol is oxidized via a dehydrogenation process at the anode and the resulting H+ ions then diffuse through the proton exchange membrane (PEM) to the cathode chamber where they are reduced to hydrogen gas. 

A promising advantage is that the standard potential is only 0.02 V vs. NHE for methanol oxidation compared to 1.23 V for water electrolysis. Moreover, the hydrogen generated originates not only from the alcohol but also from the water during the electrolysis processes according to the overall equation (3):

At anode:  CH3OH + H2O = 6H+ + CO2 + 6e-      Eo = 0.02 V vs. NHE     (1)
At cathode: 2H+ + 2e- = H2                                             (2)
Overall:   CH3OH + H2O = 3H2 + CO2                                   (3)
The combination of this electrolyser concept with solar cells would economically produce hydrogen for storage and subsequent use in, or for on-spot use in fuel cells and chemical engineering applications.

The two techniques are assembled to one set as shown below. Such sets are ideal for education, demonstration, research and other applications. These originally invented sets are ready to mass production.  
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Technical specifications