TITLE:
Hydrogen Production by Water Electrolysis Effects of the Electrodes Materials Nature on the Solar Water Electrolysis Performances
AUTHORS:
Romdhane Ben Slama
KEYWORDS:
Hydrogen; Electrolysis; Photovoltaic; Electrodes; Corrosion
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Resources,
Vol.4 No.1,
March
26,
2013
ABSTRACT: Our contribution in the production of hydrogen, vector of energy, consists in testing the water electrolysis by photovoltaic solar energy. The realization of some electrolysers whose electrodes are various materials, showed a clear difference from the point of view produced hydrogen flow, conversion efficiency, energy specific consumption and the electrodes lifespan. This made it possible to classify materials, by performances descending order, as follows: copper, lead, bronzes, aluminum, stainless, graphite and steel. However lead has a too low flow and aluminum corrodes quickly. Steel admits poor yield and lifespan. Then, we retain primarily copper like anode metal. To increase the hydrogen produced flow by electrolysis, the electrolysers parallel assembly choice is essential. According to the hour of the day, the evolution of the parameters such as consumed current, efficiency, and specific energy differs from a material with another, which can be explained by the variation of solar energy during the day.