FuelCellsWorks

The aim is to advance electric vehicles with fuel cells and make hydrogen and fuel cell technology part of the future

Showing commitment for the H2 Mobility initiative, Dieter Zetsche accepted the Award IPHE (International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy) in the category” Excellence in Leadership at the opening of the Conference. The aim of the initiative is to advance the commercialization of electric vehicles with fuel cells and make hydrogen and fuel cell technology an integral part in the future of the automotive world.

This is collective effort with EnBW, Linde, OMV, Shell, Total, Vattenfall and the National Organisation for Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology (NOW GmbH) whome all adopted a Memorandum of Understanding that was initiated by Daimler and lime. To reach their goal, they have been building a nationwide hydrogen refueling stations in Germany.

Daimler at the World Hydrogen Energy Conference

The 18th World Hydrogen Energy Conference (WHEC) is considered the world’s most important trade event on hydrogen and its economic use as an energy source. The WHEC pursues the goal of a sustainable, environmentally friendly energy through the use of hydrogen. The international experts will discuss the state of developments and on the market preparation and introduction of hydrogen and fuel cell technology. The focus of this year’s conference is on innovations, developments and the latest research results of German industry and science.

For Daimler AG, participation in this conference as part of a mobility issue is an obvious step, because electric vehicles with fuel cell technology is an integral part of the drive Daimler roadmap to sustainable mobility. It allows locally emission-free mobility, range and short refueling times and at the same time high. “It is no longer a question of whether the fuel cell is a viable alternative to the combustion engine, but only when,” said Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Daimler AG, at the start of the conference. “The technology is already ready for the market. Now, to pave the way for the broad market, we need a targeted research funding, an effective market activation and binding, global standards, “said Dieter Zetsche.

Ride & Drive with electric vehicles with fuel cell

Insights into market-ready state of the art Mercedes-Benz give presentations and exhibits on Daimler’s stand, and the opportunity to Ride & Drive. In addition to the Mercedes-Benz B-Class F-CELL, and the Mercedes-Benz Citaro FuelCELL hybrid is represented at the WHEC. All attendees of the conference, both vehicles offered under the Ride & Drive and try to experience yourself. Both vehicles impressively demonstrate the tangible everyday practicality of fuel cell technology from Daimler.

Introduction of electric vehicles with fuel cell

Ongoing demonstration projects such as the Clean Energy Partnership (CEP), in which the oil industry, energy suppliers and the automotive industry are involved show that the manufacture, storage, transport and use of compressed hydrogen is technically possible, as well as the construction of the necessary infrastructure. In addition, the leading car manufacturer, an MoU for the development and market introduction of electric vehicles have announced a fuel cell. You do this by 2015 worldwide by several hundred thousand vehicles over the entire life cycle.

A step toward the realization of a new hydrogen production system using solar light -

Points

• The activity of a tungsten oxide photocatalyst was increased by surface treatment with cesium.
• The quantum yield of the new photocatalyst under visible light is larger than the previously reported values by a factor of about 50.
• The photocatalyst can reduce the voltage required for water electrolysis by almost 50%, thereby lowering the cost of hydrogen production.

Summary

Kazuhiro Sayama (Leader), Yugo Miseki (Research Scientist), et al. of Solar Light Energy Conversion Group, the Energy Technology Research Institute (Director: Yasuo Hasegawa) of the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST; President: Tamotsu Nomakuchi), developed a tungsten oxide (WO₃) photocatalyst (Upper left in photo 1) that provides a significantly higher quantum yield under visible light than conventional photocatalysts. A photocatalyst-electrolysis hybrid system (Photo 1) using this photocatalyst is a hydrogen production system in which solar light is efficiently used. The AIST’s original system employs the photocatalyst that generates oxygen by oxidizing water and reducing iron(III) ions (Fe³⁺) to iron(II) ions (Fe²⁺). The system also involves low-voltage electrolysis in which water is reduced to generate hydrogen and Fe²⁺ ions are oxidized to Fe³⁺ ions.

The high efficiency of the WO₃ photocatalyst was achieved using a new method—treatment of the surface of the photocatalyst with Cesium (Cs). The activity of the treated catalyst is more than ten times that of untreated catalysts. The quantum yield of the new photocatalyst is 19% under visible light of wavelength 420 nm and is approximately 50 times the previously reported values (0.4%)*. The use of solar energy can reduce the voltage required for water electrolysis by almost 50%. Hence, the low-cost production of hydrogen is expected.

The details of this technology will be presented on March 19, 2010 at the symposium organized by the Energy and Environment Study Group at the 57^th Spring Meeting, 2010, of the Japan Society of Applied Physics to be held at Tokai University.

Photo 1: New high-performance photocatalyst (upper left) and an overall model of the photocatalyst-electrolysis hybrid system A photocatalytic reaction converting solar energy is used to lower the electrolysis voltage required for the hydrogen production by water electrolysis.

Social Background of Research

In order to suppress the emission of carbon dioxide and create a sustainable society, it is essential to make efficient use of renewable energy. One of the technologies for the effective use of solar energy, which is the most abundant renewable energy, is a low-cost hydrogen-production technique in which water is directly decomposed by photocatalysts to obtain hydrogen and oxygen. This technology has been actively studied as a fundamental technology for a future hydrogen-energy-based society. If a photocatalyst system which is as efficient as solar cells and as simple and inexpensive as plant cultivation is being developed, it can be expected to contribute significantly to the realization of a society that is not dependent on fossil resources. However, the quantum yield and solar-energy conversion efficiency of photocatalysts are still low at present. Consequently, the development of a high-performance photocatalyst system is desired.

History of Research

AIST has studied a photocatalyst-electrolysis hybrid system (Figs. 1 and 2) that can help overcome the disadvantages of conventional photocatalytic hydrogen production. This system can possibly enhance the efficiency of the photocatalyst. Further, it has the advantages of producing pure hydrogen and not requiring a large transparent hood for hydrogen collection. Because of decreased electrolysis voltage, we can also expect to manufacture hydrogen at a lower cost compared to ordinary water electrolysis systems. This system offers the advantages of conventional photocatalytic methods as well as those of usual electrolytic processes. While certain candidate redox media are used for oxidation-reduction reactions, the technique for low-voltage hydrogen production using Fe²⁺ ions has already been established. Consequently, the use of iron (Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ion pairs) as the redox medium is, at present, the most practical technique for the hybrid system. Thus, another major challenge that was faced in the realization of this hybrid system was the development of a high-performance photocatalyst that would reduce the redox medium (from Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺) while generating oxygen from water.

Figure 1 Mechanism of the photocatalyst-electrolysis hybrid system

Figure 2 Potential diagram of various reaction mechanisms for hydrogen production via water decomposition (a) Water decomposition by photocatalyst (b) Our newly developed photocatalyst-electrolysis hybrid system (c) Ordinary water electrolysis: high voltage is required.

Details of Research

It has already been announced that a WO₃ semiconductor photocatalyst can absorb visible light and that its performance in environmental cleanup processes is significantly better than that of conventional TiO₂-based photocatalysts when a copper promoter or a palladium promoter is supported on the surface of the photocatalyst (AIST press release, July 9, 2008). In this study, the conditions for the preparation and surface-treatment of the WO₃ photocatalyst powder were optimized to improve the activity of the photocatalyst for the reaction in which Fe³⁺ ions are reduced while oxygen is generated from water. It was found that the treatment of the photocatalyst with cesium salt significantly improved the photocatalytic activity (Table 1). Fe²⁺ ions were stoichiometrically generated in the reaction. It was confirmed that Cs compounds that did not dissolve in water were present on the surface of the treated photocatalyst. The surface area, particle configuration, light absorption, and internal structure of the WO₃ semiconductor photocatalyst particles did not change considerably after Cs treatment. There are two methods of Cs surface treatment: one involves the addition of cesium salt to a solution used for hydrothermal treatment, and another involves the impregnation of the WO₃ particles with cesium carbonate and sintering the particles at approximately 500°C. High activity could be achieved by both the methods. When the Cs-treated WO₃ photocatalyst surface was washed with highly acidic water to decrease the Cs ions on the surface or washed with an iron sulfate (FeSO₄) solution, the activity of the treated photocatalyst improved further (196 µmol/h) and was about 10 times that of untreated WO₃ photocatalysts (18 µmol/h).

Table 1 Activity of WO3 photocatalysts under visible light for the oxygen generation reaction. The surface of the photocatalyst was treated with aqueous solution of cesium carbonate by hydrothermal or impregnation methods.

We investigated a mechanism for improving the activity of the WO₃ photocatalyst surface-treated with Cs. The Cs atoms that were unevenly distributed on the surface of the WO₃ photocatalyst were partly removed by using highly acidic water, thereby generating ion exchange sites that do not exist on normal WO₃ surfaces. Protons (H⁺) and water molecules, in the form of H₃O⁺, were specifically absorbed at these ion-exchange sites, where oxygen was efficiently generated by the oxidation of water. At some of these sites, ion-exchange of Fe²⁺ ions also occurred and Fe³⁺ ions are rapidly reduced to Fe²⁺ ions at the sites.

Figure 3 shows the time dependence of oxygen generation using the photocatalyst optimized for the highest activity. The reaction for oxygen generation efficiently progressed until all Fe³⁺ ions added at the beginning of the experiment were reduced to Fe²⁺ ions. The reaction in both aqueous solutions of iron sulfate and that of iron chloride proceeded stoichiometrically. The photocatalyst exhibited higher activity (256 µmol/h) in the aqueous solution of iron chloride than in that of iron sulfate. The activity of the catalyst did not deteriorate during the repeated experiments. The quantum yield of 19% obtained under visible light (420 nm) was 48 times the previously reported values (0.4% for 405 nm) for WO₃ photocatalysts used for the generation of oxygen using Fe³⁺ ions. We achieved an efficiency of 0.3% for the conversion of solar energy to chemical energy, i.e., the production of Fe²⁺ ions; this is greater than the highest efficiency value reported previously for solar energy conversion by water decomposition using photocatalyst powder. In comparison to the efficiency of conversion of solar energy to hydrocarbons in photosynthesis, this value exceeds the efficiency for switchgrass (0.2%), which is a well-known plant as a prospective raw material of biofuel. Such a significant improvement in the activity is a great step toward the realization of artificial photosynthesis. In biofuel production, photosynthesized biomass is converted into easy-to-use forms of energy such as ethanol, however, processes such as harvesting, transportation, milling, and fermentation are very complicated. On the other hand, the photocatalyst-electrolysis hybrid system, shown in Fig. 1, can directly produce hydrogen via the low-voltage electrolysis of an aqueous solution of Fe²⁺ ions. Figure 4 shows the relation between the voltage and current of electrolysis in a small electrolysis apparatus that produces hydrogen using Fe²⁺ ions generated in the photocatalytic reaction. An electrolysis current was observed at a low voltage of approximately 0.8 V, and hydrogen corresponding to the current was generated at a counter electrode. Theoretically, hydrogen production by ordinary water electrolysis without using Fe²⁺ ions requires a minimum electrolysis voltage of 1.23 V; however, in practice, a voltage of 1.6 V or higher is required because of the large over voltage of oxygen. In the new hybrid system, the photocatalyst can accumulate solar energy in an aqueous solution of Fe²⁺ ions, thereby enabling us to achieve a low electrolysis voltage. Various types of power sources including solar cells and night-time electricity can be used for the electrolysis.

The results of this study represent a major step toward the development of a system for low-cost hydrogen production utilizing solar energy. The system is based on a low-cost powder photocatalyst system and would contribute to the realization of a hydrogen society in the future.

Figure 3 Time dependence of oxygen generation from FeCl3 solution using WO3 photocatalyst that is optimized to achieve the highest performance The dotted line represents the theoretical amount of oxygen generated when Fe3+ ions (1260 µmol) are completely reduced to Fe2+ ions. Fe2+ ions are obtained stoichiometrically in proportion to the amount of oxygen generated. The reaction is repeated three times using the same photocatalyst so as to confirm its durability.

Figure 4 Relation between current and voltage in the demonstrating experiment for Fe2+ reduction and hydrogen generation in the photocatalyst-electrolysis hybrid system using a small cell. (a) Ordinary electrolysis (b) In the presence of Fe2+ ions generated in the photocatalytic reaction

The results are outcomes of a project sponsored by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), i.e. “R&D of hydrogen production by water decomposition by using a visible-light-responsive semiconductor photocatalyst and porous photoelectrodes: R&D of search and verification of effectiveness of innovative next-generation technologies including the development of next-generation technologies and the feasibility study of these technologies: Development of systems for hydrogen production, transportation, and storage” (started in FY 2008).

Future Schedule

If the current quantum yield of the photocatalyst is further increased and any light with a wavelength less than 480 nm can be used for this reaction, the theoretical limit of solar energy conversion efficiency will be 2.4%. And if a semiconductor that can make use of wavelengths longer than that used for WO₃ is developed and light with wavelengths up to 600 nm can be utilized, the theoretical limit will increase to 7.5%. We intend to continue our study to improve photocatalysts so as to increase the efficiency of solar energy conversion.
*Reference
W. Erbs, J. Desilvestro, E. Borgarello, M. Grätzel, J. Phys. Chem., 1984, 88, 4001-4006.

MARIETTA, GA–GridShift Incorporated, a Khosla Ventures “Green Portfolio” company, today announced that it has developed a groundbreaking new water electrolysis technique that can produce hydrogen at a cost of $2.51 per kilogram. This breakthrough technology is half the cost of current hydrogen production and effectively makes hydrogen a more affordable alternative than gasoline at an equivalent cost of $2.70 per gallon of gasoline.

Over 90 percent of today’s hydrogen comes from steam-reformed natural gas, which produces large amounts of carbon dioxide along with the hydrogen. Hydrogen made by current electrolysis methods is low-rate and typically uses platinum catalyzed electrodes that are prohibitively expensive. GridShift’s new water electrolysis technique uses no precious metals as catalysts and when coupled with a solar array or wind turbine, it has a zero carbon-footprint.

GridShift uses a new catalyst comprised of readily available nano-particles, reducing catalyst costs by up to 97 percent. Platinum is the most often used catalyst for electrolysis based hydrogen generation, but at a cost of over $1700 an ounce, it becomes prohibitive at scale. This newly developed catalyst costs just $58 an ounce.

Overall, GridShift’s new method for hydrogen generation produces four times more hydrogen per electrode surface area than what is currently reported for commercial units today. This means that an electrolysis unit using the GridShift method would produce at least four times more fuel in the same sized machine, or require a unit four times smaller than normal to make the same amount of hydrogen. GridShift’s new electrolysis method finally breaks down the barriers that have kept a truly green hydrogen highway from extending across the country.

Aside from hydrogen at a fueling station, GridShift’s smaller, more cost effective hydrogen-producing method allows for a wide range of industrial and vehicle applications. These applications include ammonia production, hydrogenation of lighter hydrocarbons, home fuel sources for fuel cell vehicles, load-leveling applications with wind & solar installation, efficiency improvement of ICE and more. The GridShift electrolyzer is also well suited as a drop-in replacement for machines using more expensive and less efficient electrolysis units.

“Hydrogen is a critical piece of America’s future renewable energy policy,” said Robert Dopp, CEO of GridShift, Inc. “Our new water electrolysis process generates carbon neutral hydrogen that is cheaper than gasoline at a fraction of the cost and size of currently available water electrolysis hydrogen generators. We are now on the path to a truly viable hydrogen fueled future.”

The key to GridShift’s process is a new method for coating a complex three-dimensionally shaped electrode on all surfaces with a unique combination of nano catalysts that expose the catalysts to the electrolyte for efficient water electrolysis reactions and is robust enough to withstand the rigors of electrolysis. The result is an electrolyzer running as a full cell at 1000 milliamp per cm² at 80% energy efficiency. GridShift is on track to reach their goal of 85% energy efficiency, which is 47 kWh/kgH₂ or $2.35 per kg of H₂. Technical details of the development, procedure and the discovery are available in a whitepaper published at www.grid-shift.com/white_papers.

Future research for GridShift’s electrolyzer includes the development of an alkaline fuel cell based on the same design. Ultimately, the electrolyzer and alkaline fuel cell will be married into a high efficiency hydrogen flow-cell. More details will be released in future whitepapers out of GridShift’s high-energy research laboratory.

About GridShift

GridShift Incorporated, funded by Khosla Ventures of Menlo Park, CA, was founded in 2008 to develop a high rate and high efficiency alkaline water electrolysis apparatus for hydrogen generation from water. The company has met all planned milestones and is now seeking strategic partnerships to grow the technology. Future projects include an alkaline fuel cell and flow cell utilizing the base technology reported on in the company’s latest whitepaper.

About Robert Dopp, CEO of GridShift

Mr. Dopp is a leading expert in the field of water electrolysis, alkaline fuel cells, zinc-air fuel cells and air electrode technologies. During his 18-year career as an engineer at Rayovac Corporation, he was a principal developer of the zinc-air hearing aid battery. Previously, he served as the Director of Research for Electric Fuel Corporation. Since 2002, his laboratory has served clients including major manufacturers and National Laboratories. Mr. Dopp has 37 issued patents and 18 pending patents, and has been a guest lecturer on university campuses and at technical associations including the National Hydrogen Association and Sandia National Laboratories.

Atlanta, GA – The Center for Transportation and the Environment (CTE) has been awarded a $6 million

contract for the development of a Department of Defense hydrogen fuel cell pilot program at the

Defense Depot San Joaquin (DDJC), in Tracy, California. The project scope includes development of a

hydrogen pilot at DDJC utilizing 20 hydrogen-powered forklifts for warehousing activities, and an

electrolysis-based hydrogen generation system using renewable energy. The project consists of

approximately 12 months of infrastructure and vehicle development and deployment followed by two

years of pilot program operations and data collection.

The project team, led by CTE, consists of industry-leading organizations, including Plug Power Inc.

(NY/USA, NASDAQ: PLUG), Air Products and Chemicals (PA/USA), and Proton Energy Systems

(CT/USA). The group includes a unique mix of emerging technologies from developers with a proven

record of moving clean energy products into the marketplace.

Plug Power will source and lease a fleet of 20 sit-down counterbalanced forklift trucks and integrate each

with their class-1 GenDrive™ hydrogen fuel cell power unit, which is designed to transparently replace

large lead-acid batteries in electric lift trucks. Hydrogen fuel is stored on board the GenDrive modules in

high pressure storage tanks. The fleet will be serviced and supported by Plug Power for 24 months

under real-world conditions and will provide Plug Power the opportunity to collect data, improve

readiness levels, reduce costs, and continue expansion of the commercially viable GenDrive hydrogen

fuel cell solution into the material handling market.

Air Products and Chemicals will provide the hydrogen back up, compression, storage, and dispensing

equipment needed to fuel the lift trucks. The system will operate by compressing purified hydrogen

from the Proton FUELGEN™ system with the Air Products Series 150 compression system. The

compressed hydrogen will be stored in three gaseous hydrogen storage vessels. The stored highpressure

hydrogen will be dispensed through an automated gaseous hydrogen outdoor dispenser at

the DDJC site.

Proton Energy Systems will provide hydrogen generation via electrolysis using green energy. Proton’s

FUELGEN™ electrolyzers, based on the commercial HOGEN® H6M hydrogen generator, have

enhanced system controls. It includes an energy conservation mode for both the generator and chiller

that is well suited to the intermittent hydrogen demand of the proposed fueling scenario. The

integrated de-ionizing water system, hydrogen quality monitoring, internal temperature control, and

self-contained automatic safety system make the FUELGEN™ hydrogen fuel generator a turnkey,

completely integrated system for hydrogen fuel generation.

This is the fourth in a series of Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) pilot projects to research the economic,

operational and environmental benefits of powering material handling equipment with fuel cells.

Former Lotus Engineering sales exec joins global clean power systems company

Long Beach, Calif., Loughborough UK, 18th May, 2010 – Intelligent Energy, the clean power systems company, today announced that it has appointed W. Scott Innes as its new Vice President of Business Development in the Americas. Innes joins from Lotus Engineering, where he was responsible for heading up sales and marketing in the Americas.

Innes’ career spans 38 years, working for and supporting the automotive industry. Starting as an engineer, Innes held various positions within the Ford Motor Company, from designing catalytic converters to developing powertrain control systems. Upon leaving Ford, Innes spent 25 years in sales and marketing positions within the semiconductor industry, focused on OEM and Tier One automotive customers.

“Having worked in a number of different market segments during my career, I am now relishing the opportunity to use my experience in the clean technology sector at Intelligent Energy,” explained Innes. “My primary focus is to work closely with the team to enlarge our partner base and push forward to consistently exceed annual revenue targets.”

Before joining Intelligent Energy, Innes had been responsible for sales and marketing in the America’s for Lotus Engineering, working across a range of areas that included military, heavy duty on and off-road vehicles, Hybrid EV and motorcycles.

“Scott brings extensive sales and marketing experience following his time at the Ford Motor Company, Lotus Engineering and other high profile positions, so put simply he was the leading candidate for this role,” said Dr Henri Winand, CEO at Intelligent Energy. “Intelligent Energy has had a great start to 2010 with the European launch of the Suzuki Burgman Fuel Cell Scooter in partnership with Suzuki Motor Corporation and our continued work leading a consortium to put a fleet of fuel cell taxis on to the streets of London in time for 2012. The addition of Scott to our management team is designed to further accelerate Intelligent Energy’s commercialization plans in the United States.”

About Intelligent Energy

Intelligent Energy is a clean power systems company, with a range of leading fuel cell and hydrogen generation technologies. The company is focused on the provision of cleaner power and low carbon technologies. Intelligent Energy partners with leading companies globally, in the transportation, oil and gas, aerospace, defence, distributed generation and portable power markets. Current partners and customers include Scottish & Southern Energy plc with whom the company has formed a joint venture to commercialise fuel cell combined heat and power (CHP) systems, and The Suzuki Motor Corporation. Intelligent Energy’s successes in recent years include the development of the world’s first hydrogen fuel cell motorbike and supplying the fuel cell system to Boeing which powered the world’s first manned fuel cell aircraft. The company also recently supplied Airbus with a multi-functional fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU) aimed at on-board power and other loads in future commercial airliners.

www.intelligent-energy.com