ENHANCING HYDROGEN GENERATION FROM WATER ELECTROLYSIS BY COLLECTING CONFIGURATION AND METALLIC FABRIC ELECTRODES

Hydrogen is an important energy carrier vitally used in numerous industrial processes as a refrigerant and an essential gas in superconductor research, ultra-cold condition research, hydrogen-electric car, energy generation, the space industry, and the electricity industry. Hydrogen gas has been recognized as a favorable form to store solar energy, compared to charging a large capacity battery. Our objective was to identify the optimal conditions to increase the hydrogen production rate from water electrolysis. The hydrogen production rates were measured by varying the temperature, electrolyte pH, electrode material, electrode distance, electrolyte concentration, and the vertical distance between the electrode and the gas collection beakers were evaluated. Enhanced hydrogen production was obtained for lower pH solutions, higher temperature electrolyte, having the anode and cathode positioned closer together, and placing the electrodes outside of the beaker. Approximately a 90% enhancement in gas production was achieved by placing electrodes vertically away from the gas collecting beakers. Metallic fabrics displayed promising results over the conventional stiff metal electrode. The metallic fabric electrodes were durable without noticeable erosion and increased initial hydrogen production. Conductive fabrics were very promising due to their high conductivity, low costs, durability, and high surface area.