Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
$28,000.00
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoenergy Materials for Hydrogen (H2) Production by Water Splitting
FY 2024-25
Summary
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.
Program
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Recipient
Location
Quebec, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
RGPIN-2022-04333
Name nom
Sarkar, Dilip
Department département
Sciences appliquées - Sciences appliquées
Organization id
52
Institution établissement
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Province en
Québec
Province fr
Québec
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2024
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
28000
Program id
RGPIN
Program name en
Discovery Grants Program - Individual
Program name fr
Programme de subventions à la découverte - individuelles
Group en
DISCOVERY RESEARCH
Group fr
RECHERCHE AXÉE SUR LA DÉCOUVERTE
Committee code
1511
Committee name en
Materials and Chemical Engineering
Committee name fr
Génie chimique et des matériaux
Area of application code
305
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy storage and conversion
Area of application fr
Stockage et transformation de l'énergie
Research subject code
2010
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Thin films/interface
Research subject fr
Films minces et interfaces
Field of research list names en
Not available
Field of research list names fr
Non disponible
Socioeconomic objective list names en
Not available
Socioeconomic objective list names fr
Non disponible
Application title
Synthesis and Characterization of Nanoenergy Materials for Hydrogen (H2) Production by Water Splitting
Keywords
hydrogen energy; nanomaterials; water splitting; electrocatalysts; electrolysis; electrodeposition process; hydrothermal process; anodization process; photocatalysts; transition metal
Application summary
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.
