Efficient solar hydrogen generation in microgravity environment

Katharina Brinkert (), Matthias H. Richter, Ömer Akay, Janine Liedtke, Michael Giersig, Katherine T. Fountaine and Hans-Joachim Lewerenz ()
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Katharina Brinkert: California Institute of Technology
Matthias H. Richter: California Institute of Technology
Ömer Akay: Freie Universität Berlin
Janine Liedtke: Advanced Concepts Team, European Space Agency, ESTEC
Michael Giersig: Freie Universität Berlin
Katherine T. Fountaine: California Institute of Technology
Hans-Joachim Lewerenz: California Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2018, vol. 9, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Long-term space missions require extra-terrestrial production of storable, renewable energy. Hydrogen is ascribed a crucial role for transportation, electrical power and oxygen generation. We demonstrate in a series of drop tower experiments that efficient direct hydrogen production can be realized photoelectrochemically in microgravity environment, providing an alternative route to existing life support technologies for space travel. The photoelectrochemical cell consists of an integrated catalyst-functionalized semiconductor system that generates hydrogen with current densities >15 mA/cm2 in the absence of buoyancy. Conditions are described adverting the resulting formation of ion transport blocking froth layers on the photoelectrodes. The current limiting factors were overcome by controlling the micro- and nanotopography of the Rh electrocatalyst using shadow nanosphere lithography. The behaviour of the applied system in terrestrial and microgravity environment is simulated using a kinetic transport model. Differences observed for varied catalyst topography are elucidated, enabling future photoelectrode designs for use in reduced gravity environments.

Date: 2018
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04844-y

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