If it is not yet a source of energy used properly, hydrogen are a vital means of storage. However, the main challenge now is to produce a “green”. The Ecole Polytechnique Federal de Lausanne (EPFL) was launched recently in the development of a cell PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL (PEC in English) can split water into hydrogen and oxygen to the same surface electrodes. Unlike existing systems, which are to involve a solar cell with an electrolyzer, the PEC have as their main shortcoming low efficiency. However, the EPFL hopes to reach yields of around 4.5% in 2009 and 7% in 2011.

The project is coordinated by the Center for Energy EPFL and driven by the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces led by Professor Michael Grätzel, inventor of the solar cells of the same name based on the photosynthesis of plants convert solar energy into electricity. These works are a continuation of those made in the late 90s in collaboration with professors Jan Augustynski in Geneva and Gion Calzaferri in Bern and had allowed the construction of a “tandem cell” PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL whose results were promising. This cell linked a semiconductor with a dye cell, which could increase the electrical supply for the reaction of dissociation of water. 

The new project, entitled PECHouse will try to improve this by developing materials more stable. Indeed, the main obstacle to the development of such cells is to find materials that resist corrosion while retaining an affordable price. With a budget of about 3.1 million, PECHouse is supported by the Federal Office of Energy and can benefit from the expertise and skills of EMPA, the federal laboratory dedicated to materials.

Knowledge Based-

WHY PEC RESEARCH ?

Hydrogen, H2, has the potential to meet the requirements of a sustainable and carbon-neutral fuel in the future, if it can be produced from our sun, the world’s most abundant energy source, and stored and transported safely.
At present, there is still a large gap between our present global energy consumption (around 13 terawatts, TW), our use of solar energy to supply the world’s energy demand (less than 2 %), and the enormous untapped potential of the sun (120’000 TW).
The development of photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) is promoted by increasing public awareness that the Earth’s oil reserves could run out during this century. Public concern has been heightened as well by the environmental pollution and the climatic consequences of the greenhouse effect caused by fossil fuel combustion. Continue reading →