Green micro-hydrogen production from aluminum alloys using solar energy assisted electrochemical reaction system

The industrial revolution and technological developments are leading to an increase in energy consumption and thus an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Given our country's dependence on foreign energy, new solutions must be developed for both global climate change and the search for energy resources. In addition, another problem that is likely to arise is how to use waste in the future. Hydrogen can be produced from metals through electrochemical reactions, and it is also a cheap, practical and emission-free method if the applied DC voltage is supplied by renewable energy sources. The by-product of the reaction has many applications in many fields. The aim of the study is both to evaluate aluminum alloys in hydrogen production and to have zero-emission production. The data obtained from the experimental system established for hydrogen production, using an off-grid system with a power of 340 WP installed on the roof of the laboratory, have been recorded for different aluminum alloys. Compared to the hydrogen production rate obtained from the electrolysis of pure water, an oxidized layer is formed on the outer surface of the aluminum used as a catalyst, which provides more hydrogen production. This oxidized surface prevents hydrogen production and the oxidized layer is overcome by using alkaline solution. 1N alkaline solutions were prepared using NaOH and KOH, hydrogen yield and hydrogen production rate were calculated by using the hydrogen production amounts produced from different aluminum alloys at 65°C temperature and by applying DC voltage of 5V. SEM images were taken for structural analysis of by-products obtained from aluminum alloys after hydrogen production and alloys before reaction. In addition, hydrogen production rates and hydrogen yields were plotted against time for different alloys and different alkaline solutions and it was observed that hydrogen production varies depending on the type of alkaline solution and different elemental content of the alloys. It was also found that the particle size of the alloys caused significant changes in the hydrogen production rate. Key Words : Aluminum alloys, hydrogen production, photovoltaic systems