Light Concentrator

PVs

Fluidic
s
Water Splitting

Optimizing Solar-Hydrogen Production

PV

Electrolysis

PV

Electrolysis

Small
Large
electrolyzer
electrolyzer
Optimal
electrolyzer

High Efficiency Solar-H2

through PV design

Improving through PV design:

Si-Heterojunction cells
Single cells

3-series connected module

VOC > 700 mV for single cells

VOC > 2.1 V for module

Simple, robust and high-efficiency

Operating point below MPP = stability

High efficiency over long time (>14.2%)

Even with earth-abundant catalysts

Microstructured Nickel
Electrodes

Stable operation for

>100 hrs

The broader space of S-H

devices

First demonstration of a planar self-tracking concentrator (+/- 16o)

Zagolla V et al.,
Self-tracking solar concentrator with an a
cceptance angle of 32
, Optics Express, Vol. 22, Issue S7, 2014.
Zagolla V et al,
Proof of principle demonstration of a self-t
racking concentrator
, Optics Express, Vol. 22, 2014.

Improvement can help trigger

implementation
Record efficiency with non-precious
materials
Simple, robust and scalable solution
approaching maximum efficiencies
with Si

Today, electrolyzers are too expensive

Feedstock = Electricity Use Efficiency
Electrolyzer Cost Distribution
18%
(MEA)

MEA
Bipolar Plates
Labor
Bipolar Plates
Balance of Cell

Disrupting the electrolysis field:

membrane-less water-splitting

No need for
expensive
membranes
Broad range of
ions support
current
Increased
conductivity and
efficiency
Fluids provide gas

Economic gains from

membraneless operation
120

(Assuming catalysis
can keep up)

Current Density [A/cm2]

100

Gains in capital
cost(?)

80

60

40

Gains in feedstock cost

(~ 25% or 0.75$/Kg)

20

80%
60%

0
0

0.5

1
1.5
Potential [V]

(Approximate
performance of NSTF
MEAs from 3M)
2.5

Representative illustration (not based on real da

Fluidic gas separation

Segre Silberberg Effect: Fluidic
forces control bubble trajectory

Patent pending, 2015

Hashemi, Modestino, Psaltis, Ener. Env. Sci., 2015, 8, 2003-2

Separation depends on flowrates

4
ml/h
6.7 cm/s
Re =
0.94
Anode

67
cm/s
Re =
9.4
Cathode

O2

H2

Hashemi et al. Ener. Env. Sci., 2015, 8, 2003-2

Summary and technology

outlook

High current densities >300 mA/cm2

Safe gas streams
Broad range of electrolytes
Increasing throughput:
Parallel plate
morphology
3D printing
technology

Project accomplishments
Output to scientific community and society:
16 publications
4 patent applications
4 Ph.D. students
Global conference on Solar-H2 pathways
Awards and media presence:
Foreign Policy Magazine's 100 Leading Global Thinkers Prize
2015 Energy and Environmental Science Readers' Award Lectureship
Best Student Presentation Award from the OSA, Energy and the Environment
Congress

Approach to Industry
Mid-scale and mobility
sector
Off-grid energy storage and
fuel generation (e.g. H2
electrolyzer/fuel cell system
integrated with PV)

Gas sensing
On-chip microelectrolyzers for
flame ionization detectors
(FID)

Solar concentration
Planar concentration solutions

Early stage application

State-of-the-art: Benchtop
FID systems with integrated
H2 generator

FID system: Integrated SHINE

microelectrolyzer with miniutarized insilico FID

SHINEs electrolysis
FID needs to be
Key advantages:
technology
developed and integrated
Fabrication cost reductions
Low energy consumption
Safety improvements due to low H2 volumes
Easily integreted into chemical processes for monitoring

SHINE Members

C. Moser
EPFL

D. Psaltis
EPFL

S. Haussener
EPFL

J. Bailat
CSEM

A. Braun
EMPA

E. Chinello V. Zagolla
S.M.H. Hashemi
M. Modestino
S. Tembhurne
J.W. Schuettauf R. Toth
EPFL
EPFL
EPFL
EPFL
EPFL
CSEM
EMPA

D. Bora
EMPA