While investigating the state of the art in this field, I kept having this question running in my mind, when authors report photocatalytic performance of water splitting systems. For hydrogen to become a viable pathways for tomorrow's energy management, the standards measurements should include neutral pH and mineralized water. Or can deionization and (e.g.) alkanization be part of a sustainable cycle?
Victor Malgras
The production of hydrogen using solar energy requires water preparation using a sacrificial electrolyte or biological catalyst. In this way, it is possible to stabilize some kind of pH (acidic or alkaline). Purification of a catalyst with standard properties .... All of this must be considered if the economic preference for this method of generating energy from hydrogen is calculated.
Thank you Yuri.
Thank you Arthur. Sorry you feel this way about sustainability questions. The fact is I see many countries are about to concentrate a large amount of research budget in this field, but before diving in, I wanted to know if some basic questions (like the one I asked) are being addressed or even worried about.
I meet so many scientists incapable of seeing the bigger picture. I really want to see the hydrogen as the promising energy of the future, but I want to be sure people are realistic. If I produce 3.6 kWh with my 1L water photoelectrolyzer (quick calculation), but that I have to spend 50% of that in producing the necessary KOH/H2SO4 or demineralizing the water, it is not viable. Then you account for roughly 60% storage efficiency. I am just looking at the realistic energy balance. Sorry maybe the term sustainability wasn't right here, just viability.
Regarding your other point, I can only agree with you (unless I misunderstood), it's philosophical. People are hoping for science to find the next Gizmo that will save their souls, but are not ready to compromise on changing their resources/energy-hungry behavior. Just saying.
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