A Silver Lining in the Hunt for Green Energy: Making Hydrogen Production Easier

BUSAN, South Korea, March 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As the world is on the brink of exhausting its fossil fuel resources, researchers globally are investing tremendous efforts to look for effective "clean" sources of energy. One viable option is hydrogen (H₂), a highly efficient fuel that can be produced from biomass-based substrates like wastewater. One way to generate H₂ is using microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), in which electrochemically active microorganisms catalyze the oxidation of organic compounds to produce H₂. In this process, charged particles called "protons" and "electrons" react with each other in the cathode chamber of an MEC, generating highly purified H₂. A proton exchange membrane (PEM) facilitating the proton-electron reaction is, thus, a central player in the functioning of the cell. But often, the proton transportation ability of PEMs is impeded due to the accumulation of organic matter on its surface—a process called "biofouling." This, unfortunately, limits the efficiency and longevity of MECs. Therefore, to leverage the full potential of MECs, it is crucial to use find ways to mitigate biofouling-related blockage in PEMs.

In a study published in International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, scientists at National Korea Maritime & Ocean University, led by Dr Kyu-Jung Chae, designed an anti-biofouling PEM (and a 2D nanomaterial-based PEM). Dr Chae says, "If high-performance 2D nanomaterial-based membranes with robust anti-biofouling properties are commercialized, H₂ production can become easier and more cost-effective."

To develop such a membrane, the scientists focused on silver nanoparticles (AgNP), which are known for their anti-fouling properties. But, using AgNP renders the membrane a hydrophobic nature. Moreover, immobilizing AgNP onto the membrane is a complex process. To overcome these challenges, the scientists decided to use another coating agent called "polydopamine" (PDA), with anti-biofouling and hydrophilic properties, to make AgNP immobilization easier.

The modified membrane showed significantly higher anti-biofouling property than the non-modified ones or those single-coated with either AgNP or PDA. They also observed that best result was obtained when PDA was applied before AgNP coating. Moreover, when equipped with this 2D nanomaterial-based PEM, the MEC showed high H₂ recovery performance, even after 6 months of operation. Prof Chae and his team have further elaborated the potential applications of 2D material-based membranes for H₂ purification in another study published in the same journal.

Discussing the impact of their study, Dr Chae seems enthusiastic, "By leveraging the durability of the high-performance membranes that adopt different nanomaterial-based augmentation, it is possible to develop highly efficient MECs producing H₂ from biomass. Commercializing such cost-effective MECs will help to realize the global dream of a society that thrives on sustainability."

This study is, indeed, a big win for the environment—taking us closer to a sustainable future.

Reference

*Corresponding author's email: [email protected]

About National Korea Maritime & Ocean University 
Website: http://www.kmou.ac.kr/english/main.do

About the author

Dr Kyu-Jung Chae is an Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering at Korea Maritime and Ocean University (KMOU). Before joining KMOU, he completed his PhD in environmental engineering from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), South Korea.

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SOURCE National Korea Maritime & Ocean University