IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v13y2022i1d10.1038_s41467-022-32652-y.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Hydrogen production from the air

Author

Listed:
  • Jining Guo

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Yuecheng Zhang

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Ali Zavabeti

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Kaifei Chen

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Yalou Guo

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Guoping Hu

    (The University of Melbourne
    Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Xiaolei Fan

    (The University of Manchester
    Nottingham Ningbo China Beacons of Excellence Research and Innovation Institute)

  • Gang Kevin Li

    (The University of Melbourne)

Abstract

Green hydrogen produced by water splitting using renewable energy is the most promising energy carrier of the low-carbon economy. However, the geographic mismatch between renewables distribution and freshwater availability poses a significant challenge to its production. Here, we demonstrate a method of direct hydrogen production from the air, namely, in situ capture of freshwater from the atmosphere using hygroscopic electrolyte and electrolysis powered by solar or wind with a current density up to 574 mA cm−2. A prototype of such has been established and operated for 12 consecutive days with a stable performance at a Faradaic efficiency around 95%. This so-called direct air electrolysis (DAE) module can work under a bone-dry environment with a relative humidity of 4%, overcoming water supply issues and producing green hydrogen sustainably with minimal impact to the environment. The DAE modules can be easily scaled to provide hydrogen to remote, (semi-) arid, and scattered areas.

Suggested Citation

  • Jining Guo & Yuecheng Zhang & Ali Zavabeti & Kaifei Chen & Yalou Guo & Guoping Hu & Xiaolei Fan & Gang Kevin Li, 2022. "Hydrogen production from the air," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32652-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32652-y
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-32652-y
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-022-32652-y?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hiroshi Nishiyama & Taro Yamada & Mamiko Nakabayashi & Yoshiki Maehara & Masaharu Yamaguchi & Yasuko Kuromiya & Yoshie Nagatsuma & Hiromasa Tokudome & Seiji Akiyama & Tomoaki Watanabe & Ryoichi Narush, 2021. "Photocatalytic solar hydrogen production from water on a 100-m2 scale," Nature, Nature, vol. 598(7880), pages 304-307, October.
    2. Wenming Tong & Mark Forster & Fabio Dionigi & Sören Dresp & Roghayeh Sadeghi Erami & Peter Strasser & Alexander J. Cowan & Pau Farràs, 2020. "Electrolysis of low-grade and saline surface water," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 5(5), pages 367-377, May.
    3. Hyunho Kim & Sameer R. Rao & Eugene A. Kapustin & Lin Zhao & Sungwoo Yang & Omar M. Yaghi & Evelyn N. Wang, 2018. "Adsorption-based atmospheric water harvesting device for arid climates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ali, Haider & Siddiqui, Muhammad Usama & Ammar, & Aswani, Muhammad Ahsan & Umer, Muhammad & Khan, Muhammad Ismail, 2024. "Techno-economic analysis of various configurations of stand-alone PV-RO systems for Pakistan," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).
    2. Luiz Morais-da-Silva, Rodrigo & Glufke Reis, Germano & Sanctorum, Hermes & Forte Maiolino Molento, Carla, 2022. "The social impacts of a transition from conventional to cultivated and plant-based meats: Evidence from Brazil," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    3. Davide Tonelli & Lorenzo Rosa & Paolo Gabrielli & Ken Caldeira & Alessandro Parente & Francesco Contino, 2023. "Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Zainal, Bidattul Syirat & Ker, Pin Jern & Mohamed, Hassan & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Fattah, I.M.R. & Rahman, S.M. Ashrafur & Nghiem, Long D. & Mahlia, T M Indra, 2024. "Recent advancement and assessment of green hydrogen production technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PA).
    5. Hren, Robert & Vujanović, Annamaria & Van Fan, Yee & Klemeš, Jiří Jaromír & Krajnc, Damjan & Čuček, Lidija, 2023. "Hydrogen production, storage and transport for renewable energy and chemicals: An environmental footprint assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    6. Tom Terlouw & Lorenzo Rosa & Christian Bauer & Russell McKenna, 2024. "Future hydrogen economies imply environmental trade-offs and a supply-demand mismatch," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Guo, Junyan & Gao, Ruihong & Tong, Zhaoming & Zhang, Haijun & Duan, Hongjuan & Huang, Liang & Lu, Lilin & Jia, Quanli & Zhang, Shaowei, 2023. "Three eagles with one arrow: Simultaneous production of hydrogen, aluminum ethoxide, and supported metal catalysts via efficient and facile reaction between aluminum and ethanol," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    8. Cheng, Fangwei & Luo, Hongxi & Jenkins, Jesse D. & Larson, Eric D., 2023. "The value of low- and negative-carbon fuels in the transition to net-zero emission economies: Lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions and cost assessments across multiple fuel types," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 331(C).

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Andreas von Döllen & YoungSeok Hwang & Stephan Schlüter, 2021. "The Future Is Colorful—An Analysis of the CO 2 Bow Wave and Why Green Hydrogen Cannot Do It Alone," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-20, September.
    2. Hao Shi & Tanyuan Wang & Jianyun Liu & Weiwei Chen & Shenzhou Li & Jiashun Liang & Shuxia Liu & Xuan Liu & Zhao Cai & Chao Wang & Dong Su & Yunhui Huang & Lior Elbaz & Qing Li, 2023. "A sodium-ion-conducted asymmetric electrolyzer to lower the operation voltage for direct seawater electrolysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    3. Ghouri, Zafar Khan & Elsaid, Khaled & Mahmoud Nasef, Mohamed & Badreldin, Ahmed & Wubulikasimu, Yiming & Abdel-Wahab, Ahmed, 2022. "Incorporation of manganese carbonyl sulfide ((Mn2S2 (CO)7) and mixed metal oxides-decorated reduced graphene oxide (MnFeCoO4/rGO) as a selective anode toward efficient OER from seawater splitting unde," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 1029-1040.
    4. Isaac Holmes-Gentle & Saurabh Tembhurne & Clemens Suter & Sophia Haussener, 2023. "Kilowatt-scale solar hydrogen production system using a concentrated integrated photoelectrochemical device," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(6), pages 586-596, June.
    5. Qitao Chen & Baodong Mao & Yanhong Liu & Yunjie Zhou & Hui Huang & Song Wang & Longhua Li & Wei-Cheng Yan & Weidong Shi & Zhenhui Kang, 2024. "Designing 2D carbon dot nanoreactors for alcohol oxidation coupled with hydrogen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    6. Shafeian, Nafise & Ranjbar, A.A. & Gorji, Tahereh B., 2022. "Progress in atmospheric water generation systems: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    7. Xinyi Zhang & Michael Schwarze & Reinhard Schomäcker & Roel Krol & Fatwa F. Abdi, 2023. "Life cycle net energy assessment of sustainable H2 production and hydrogenation of chemicals in a coupled photoelectrochemical device," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    8. Mahdi Takach & Mirza Sarajlić & Dorothee Peters & Michael Kroener & Frank Schuldt & Karsten von Maydell, 2022. "Review of Hydrogen Production Techniques from Water Using Renewable Energy Sources and Its Storage in Salt Caverns," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    9. Changhao Liu & Ningsi Zhang & Yang Li & Rongli Fan & Wenjing Wang & Jianyong Feng & Chen Liu & Jiaou Wang & Weichang Hao & Zhaosheng Li & Zhigang Zou, 2023. "Long-term durability of metastable β-Fe2O3 photoanodes in highly corrosive seawater," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    10. Yannan Liu & Cheng-Hao Liu & Tushar Debnath & Yong Wang & Darius Pohl & Lucas V. Besteiro & Debora Motta Meira & Shengyun Huang & Fan Yang & Bernd Rellinghaus & Mohamed Chaker & Dmytro F. Perepichka &, 2023. "Silver nanoparticle enhanced metal-organic matrix with interface-engineering for efficient photocatalytic hydrogen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    11. Karmakar, Avishek & Prabakaran, Vivekh & Zhao, Dan & Chua, Kian Jon, 2020. "A review of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as energy-efficient desiccants for adsorption driven heat-transformation applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    12. Xinwu Xu & Yang Lu & Junqin Shi & Xiaoyu Hao & Zelin Ma & Ke Yang & Tianyi Zhang & Chan Li & Dina Zhang & Xiaolei Huang & Yibo He, 2023. "Corrosion-resistant cobalt phosphide electrocatalysts for salinity tolerance hydrogen evolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    13. Teicht, Christian, 2023. "An easy-to-use modification of the potential theory of adsorption and creation of an adsorbent data base," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PD).
    14. Tingxian Li & Minqiang Wu & Jiaxing Xu & Ruxue Du & Taisen Yan & Pengfei Wang & Zhaoyuan Bai & Ruzhu Wang & Siqi Wang, 2022. "Simultaneous atmospheric water production and 24-hour power generation enabled by moisture-induced energy harvesting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Ge, Lurong & Feng, Yaohui & Wu, Jiarong & Wang, Ruzhu & Ge, Tianshu, 2024. "Performance evaluation of MIL-101(Cr) based desiccant-coated heat exchangers for efficient dehumidification," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 289(C).
    16. Yang Gao & Yurui Xue & Lu Qi & Chengyu Xing & Xuchen Zheng & Feng He & Yuliang Li, 2022. "Rhodium nanocrystals on porous graphdiyne for electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution from saline water," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    17. Tamerlan Srymbetov & Albina Jetybayeva & Dinara Dikhanbayeva & Luis Rojas‐Solórzano, 2023. "Mapping non‐conventional atmospheric drinking‐water harvesting opportunities in Central Eurasia: The case of Kazakhstan," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 47(1), pages 87-113, February.
    18. Takuya Suguro & Fuminao Kishimoto & Nobuko Kariya & Tsuyoshi Fukui & Mamiko Nakabayashi & Naoya Shibata & Tsuyoshi Takata & Kazunari Domen & Kazuhiro Takanabe, 2022. "A hygroscopic nano-membrane coating achieves efficient vapor-fed photocatalytic water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    19. Nicholas Gurieff & Donna Green & Ilpo Koskinen & Mathew Lipson & Mark Baldry & Andrew Maddocks & Chris Menictas & Jens Noack & Behdad Moghtaderi & Elham Doroodchi, 2020. "Healthy Power: Reimagining Hospitals as Sustainable Energy Hubs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-17, October.
    20. Wei-Wei Fang & Gui-Yu Yang & Zi-Hui Fan & Zi-Chao Chen & Xun-Liang Hu & Zhen Zhan & Irshad Hussain & Yang Lu & Tao He & Bi-En Tan, 2023. "Conjugated cross-linked phosphine as broadband light or sunlight-driven photocatalyst for large-scale atom transfer radical polymerization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-32652-y. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.