High Purity H2 from Sunlight via a Unique Combination of Novel Photodiodes and Membranes

Precision Combustion, Inc. (PCI) together with University of Michigan (UMich) proposes a system to use solar energy to convert water to ultra-high purity compressed hydrogen suitable for PEM fuel cells. We will combine UMich’s high efficiency photocatalytic water splitting approach with PCI’s integrated hydrogen separator/compressor. The proposed effort will confirm the avoidance of external energy input beyond solar energy, indifference to water quality, high photocatalytic efficiency , with high H2 selectivity and purity suitable for PEM use. The H2 produced will also be compressed by our system to overcome the internal pressure drop of PEM fuel cells. Based on H2 generation rates and membrane performance, component sizing suitable for producing 1 kg of H2/day will be identified.