Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoenergy Materials for Hydrogen (H2) Production by Water Splitting

可靠的可再生能源是一个主要部门，几乎在今天的任何地方都有不断增长的能源需求和依赖。在各种能源中，氢由于其丰富、零排放、可储存和高能量密度而最受欢迎。氢可以通过水分解来生产，其中水通过析氢反应（HER）和析氧反应（OER）分解成氢气（H2）和氧气（O2）。分解水的可靠而有效的方法是电解和光解。该提案的目的是合成两种类型的纳米结构材料-电催化剂和光催化剂-用于水裂解，以通过电解和光解获得H2气体。纳米结构的三维过渡金属氧化物（MO），氢氧化物（MOH），硫化物（MS）和磷化物（MP）将通过电沉积，水热和阳极氧化工艺合成。将使用具有适当金属盐和受控pH的电化学浴来合成MO和MOH。MS和MP将通过在适当的电解液中使用硫化氢（H2S）气体和次磷酸钠制备。这些电催化剂和光催化剂将用于制造电极，用于电解和光解以使用HER产生H2。该计划的结果将导致对用于水裂解过程产生H2的纳米结构MO，MOH，MS，MP的合成和表征的深入理解。HQP将在这个快速发展的技术世界中不断增长的需求领域进行培训。他们将包括研究生和本科生，博士后和研究专业人员，他们将获得关于材料合成和表征技术的全面和实践培训，这对于加拿大经济的助推器至关重要。研究结果将发表在同行评审的期刊和会议记录上，提高加拿大在能源研究活动中的知名度。将建立新的和密集的现有加拿大和国际合作。

Reliable renewable energy is a major sector with the constantly growing needs and dependency of energy almost everywhere today. Among various energy sources, hydrogen is most favorable due to its abundance, zero emission, storability, and high energy density. Hydrogen can be produced by water splitting where water is split into hydrogen (H2) and oxygen (O2) gases via hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Reliable and efficient ways to split water is by electrolysis and photolysis. The objective of this proposal is to synthesize two types of nanostructured materials - electrocatalysts and photocatalysts - for water splitting to obtain H2 gas by electrolysis and photolysis. Nanostructured 3d transition metal oxides (MO), hydroxides (MOH), sulphides (MS) and phosphides (MP) will be synthesized by electrodeposition, hydrothermal and anodization processes. Electrochemical baths with appropriate metal salts with controlled pH will be used to synthesize MO and MOH. MS and MP will be prepared by using hydrogen sulphide (H2S) gas and sodium hypophosphite in appropriate electrolytes. These electrocatalysts and photocatalysts will be used to fabricate electrodes for electrolysis and photolysis to generate H2 using HER. The outcome of this program will lead to in-depth comprehension of synthesis and characterization of nanostructured MO, MOH, MS, MP for H2 production by water splitting processes. HQPs, will be trained in this field of increasing demand in this fast advancing technological world. They will comprise graduate and undergraduate students, postdocs and research professionals, who will acquire comprehensive and hands-on training on material synthesis and characterization techniques, which is essential as the Canadian economy booster. Results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and conference proceedings, increasing Canada's visibility in energy research activities. New and intensive of existing Canadian and international collaborations will be established.