Characteristics of biochar-assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production

doi:10.16085/j.issn.1000-6613.2021-0062

Abstract

Abstract:

The characteristics of rice husk hydrothermal biochar (HB) and pyrolytic biochar (PB) assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production were studied at low temperature using H-type electrochemical cell. LSV, EIS and hydrogen production of the biochar slurry were tested by electrochemical workstation, and the electrochemical reaction characteristics of the two kinds of biochar were analyzed through XPS, FTIR, BET, XRD and SEM. The influence of physicochemical properties of biochar on its oxidation process was discussed. Results indicated that the onset potential of HB was very low due to the abundance of—OH groups, while PB showed a strong reactivity at a higher anode potential (>1.2V vs. MSE) due to its rich pore structure and high specific surface area. The solution resistance and charge transfer resistance of the biochar slurries decreased with the increase of reaction temperature. The activation energy of biochar oxidation decreased with the increase of anode potential. The silicate in biochar had inhibition effect on its electrochemical reaction. The current density increased due to the exposure of the surface functional groups of PB after pickling, while the current density decreased due to the removal of the easily oxidized radicals in HB by pickling. Under the same conditions, the hydrogen production rate of PB was higher than that of HB.

Key words: hydrogen production, pyrolysis, hydrothermal, electrochemistry, biomass

摘要：

利用H型电化学池，在低温下研究稻壳水热生物炭（HB）和热解生物炭（PB）辅助水电解制氢的特性，采用电化学工作站对炭浆液进行LSV、EIS以及产氢特性测试，并结合XPS、FTIR、BET、XRD和SEM表征，分析两种生物炭的电化学反应特性，并探讨了生物炭理化性能对其氧化过程的影响规律。结果表明：HB中丰富的—OH基团使得阳极起始电位非常低，而PB有良好的孔隙结构和高比表面积，因此在较高阳极电位（>1.2V vs. MSE）下的反应活性较强；生物炭浆液的溶液电阻和电荷传递电阻随着反应温度的升高而减小；生物炭氧化反应活化能随着阳极电位的增高呈下降趋势；硅酸盐成分对生物炭氧化有一定阻碍作用，PB酸洗后表面官能团暴露有利于其氧化且使电流密度增大，但酸洗会清除HB中易氧化基团，导致其电流密度下降；相同条件下PB较HB的产氢率更高。

关键词: 制氢, 热解, 水热, 电化学, 生物质

CLC Number:

TK91

GENG Zhen, YING Zhi, ZHENG Xiaoyuan, GAO Li, YANG Jingyang, DOU Binlin. Characteristics of biochar-assisted water electrolysis for hydrogen production[J]. Chemical Industry and Engineering Progress, 2021, 40(9): 4823-4829.

耿震, 应芝, 郑晓园, 高立, 杨景洋, 豆斌林. 生物炭辅助水电解制氢的特性[J]. 化工进展, 2021, 40(9): 4823-4829.

Figures/Tables 9

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键能/eV	结构	相对百分比/%
键能/eV	结构	HB	PB
284.6	C—（C，H）；C=C	48.14	72.12
286.1	C—（O，N）	33.23	6.78
287.9	C=O；O—C—O	18.63	8.11
292.6	O—C=O	—	12.99

键能/eV	结构	相对百分比/%
键能/eV	结构	HB	PB
284.6	C—（C，H）；C=C	48.14	72.12
286.1	C—（O，N）	33.23	6.78
287.9	C=O；O—C—O	18.63	8.11
292.6	O—C=O	—	12.99

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