화학공학소재연구정보센터
International Journal of Energy Research, Vol.44, No.14, 11111-11134, 2020
Electricity generation by splitting of water from hydroelectric cell: An alternative to solar cell and fuel cell
Harnessing green electricity by hydroelectric cell from water molecule splitting based on uniquely processed ferrites, multiferroic, composites and metal oxides has astonished the world. The specially processed oxygen deficient Nano porous ferrite/metal oxide attached with two dissimilar electrodes known as hydroelectric cell to generate electricity using a few drops of water for the first time it was invented in 2016. It is a primary source of energy that operates on the principle of spontaneous water molecule dissociation (OH(-)and H3O+) by oxygen deficient and Nano porous materials such as Mg0.8Li0.2Fe2O4, SiO2, SnO2, MgO, Fe2O3, Fe3O4, and TiO2. The electrodes attached on oxide pellets are the Zn sheet anode and inert cathode Ag paste fabricated as hydroelectric cell. Chemi-dissociation of water molecule on the pellet surface followed by physi-dissociation results into H(3)O(+)ion hopping and that ultimately leads to hopping of H(+)ions into nanopores. This phenomenon generates enough electric potential that spontaneously dissociates physisorbed water molecules on the pellet surface, thus sustaining current in the cell. Redox reactions of OH(-)and H(3)O(+)at Zn and Ag electrodes, respectively, generate cell potential, which allows the flow of electric current in the external circuit of the cell. A pellet of size 1 in. square of Mg0.8Li0.2Fe2O4, SnO2, and Fe(3)O(4)etc. is able to deliver current of 8, 22, and 50 mA with a voltage of 0.98, 0.78, and 0.83 V, respectively. Hydroelectric cell working in different functional mode is able to produce high purity hydrogen gas and zinc hydroxide nanoparticles also. This review compiled the detailed working mechanism of recently invented hydroelectric cell, with studies done on different oxide materials in order to understand their water splitting properties, its advantages and limitation along with future prospect for complementing other sources for power generation. Hydroelectric cell has brought a big revolution recently in green energy sector by opening a new field in energy materials based on water splitting by non-photocatalytic process and is progressing rapidly its development, therefore there is a need of concise and comprehensive article to introduce its working to advance this new green energy device knowledge to young researchers globally. Conduciveeconomics, ubiquitous resources, user friendly technology with no disposal issue make hydroelectric cell a future potential green energy source as a better low cost alternative to solar and fuel cell.