Ultra-Low Cost and Energy Efficient Hydrogen Generator
Abstract
There is an immediate need to dramatically reduce the capital costs of water electrolyzers to alleviate the safety costs of transporting and storing hydrogen. Through research funded by the Army Research Office Young Investigator Program, the PI of this proposal has developed two new catalysts to electrochemically split water into hydrogen and oxygen. We believe that this electrocatalyst technology could translate into an unprecedentedly efficient water splitting device, but our team needs a better understanding of the market needs in order to build a viable prototype. This I-Corps proposal would allow us to gain this knowledge from the market and greatly assist us in translating this DoD-funded research into a product that would benefit both DoD and consumer markets. There is broad agreement that water electrolysis can play a significant role in future energy systems if cost reductions can be realized. Hydrogen is often considered one of the best means to store energy from renewable and intermittent power sources. A hydrogen generator provides a dependable, easy to use on-demand solution without any of the safety concerns associated with maintaining large amounts of hydrogen on-site. To enter the market with low economic barriers, our initial market entry point for on-demand hydrogen generation will be for laboratory and small-scale industrial use. This market will dramatically benefit from the savings in safety, transportation, and storage costs of using an on-demand hydrogen generator instead of working with high-pressure hydrogen tanks. However, our technology is also inherently modular and will be amenable to scaling up for larger hydrogen generation markets. To successfully translate our technology to the market place, we need to participate in the I-Corps program to fully understand the needs and challenges of customers who currently use electrolyzers to produce hydrogen and/or oxygen, and those who currently rely on compressed gases. The knowledge that we gain by participating in the I-Corps program will allow us to develop a prototype that meets the needs of our customers and position us to be successful in the market place.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2019
- Source ID
- W911NF1810098
Entities
People
- Kevin C Leonard
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- University of Kansas