Renewable Electricity Storage Using Electrolysis

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2019 Dec 18

PMID 31843917

Citations 23

Authors

Zhifei Yan

Jeremy L Hitt

John A Turner

Thomas E Mallouk

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Electrolysis converts electrical energy into chemical energy by storing electrons in the form of stable chemical bonds. The chemical energy can be used as a fuel or converted back to electricity when needed. Water electrolysis to hydrogen and oxygen is a well-established technology, whereas fundamental advances in CO electrolysis are still needed to enable short-term and seasonal energy storage in the form of liquid fuels. This paper discusses the electrolytic reactions that can potentially enable renewable energy storage, including water, CO and N electrolysis. Recent progress and major obstacles associated with electrocatalysis and mass transfer management at a system level are reviewed. We conclude that knowledge and strategies are transferable between these different electrochemical technologies, although there are also unique complications that arise from the specifics of the reactions involved.

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