A General Strategy for Decoupled Hydrogen Production from Water Splitting by Integrating Oxidative Biomass Valorization

Conventional water electrolyzers produce H2 and O2 simultaneously, such that additional gas separation steps are needed to prevent H2/O2 mixing. The sluggish anodic O2 evolution reaction (OER) always results in low overall energy conversion efficiency and the product of OER, O2, is not of significant value. In addition, the potential formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) may lead to degradation of cell membranes and thus premature device failure. Herein we report a general concept of integrating oxidative biomass upgrading reactions with decoupled H2 generation from water splitting. Five representative biomass substrates, ethanol, benzyl alcohol, furfural, furfuryl alcohol, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural…

• US
  Utah State University