Water splitting through catalytic electrolysis

Uffe Furlig Larsen

Supervisor: Jeppe V. Lauritsen

19/09-2016, 15.15
Physical Auditorium

Hydrogen has the potential to be the energy currency of the future. This is due to the fact that it can undergo a clean burning reaction, such that no by-product besides water is created and that it potentially can be produced clean and efficiently.
Water electrolysis is perhaps the most promising technology for hydrogen production, but it is currently held back by a great energy loss in commercial production. This energy loss can be overcome by use of heterogeneous catalysis, but only expensive noble metals are currently up to standard, such that cheap catalytic materials are sorely needed. Such materials may emerge from fundamental research and understanding of heterogeneous catalysis. Especially cobalt oxide layers shows promise as catalyst in water electrolysis, but understanding is paramount in creating efficient catalysis.