Week 1

Hey guys! Week 1 of Senior Research Projects is already over and I’ve been doing some pretty interesting things. This week I got to meet up with my on-site advisor, Dr. Meng Tao, for the first time since SRPs started and talk about my project.

First thing we did was tour the Engineering Research Center here at ASU Tempe, and I got to see the inside of my professor’s lab for the first time. He showed me some of the undergraduate and graduate students’ workspaces and where everything is. Afterwards we sat down in his office and got to discussing the device I’m going to create.

As mentioned in an earlier post, my device is designed to generate usable energy using solar power. I plan on using everyday items to build the device so that it can be used at home and for educational purposes to teach about renewable energy. The solar cells in the panel would capture energy from the sun and transfer it through the wiring to the electrodes. The splitting of water happens through an oxidation-reduction reaction so at the positively charged anode the following half reaction would take place generating oxygen gas:

                                      2 H₂O(l) → O₂(g) + 4 H⁺(aq) + 4e⁻

And at the negatively charged cathode, hydrogen gas is generated:

                                      2 H⁺(aq) + 2e⁻ → H₂(g)

The reaction can also be balanced using the basic method in which

            Cathode (reduction): 2 H₂O(l) + 2e⁻ → H₂(g) + 2 OH⁻(aq)

Anode (oxidation): 4 OH⁻(aq) → O₂(g) + 2 H₂O(l) + 4 e⁻

In either case combining the half reaction pair yields the same overall reaction:

                                      Overall reaction: 2 H₂O(l) → 2 H₂(g) + O₂(g)

Under ideal conditions the hydrogen gas would be produced at twice the volume of the oxygen gas. Electrolysis of pure water occurs very slowly or not at all, so to speed up the process, we would add a salt electrolyte to increase the electrical conductivity. A tube would then collect the gas from the container then it would be ascertained whether or not the gas would combust. If it ignites, there exists hydrogen, a usable fuel source. We would also make sure to seal the device properly so that there is minimal leakage of gas or there may not be enough hydrogen gas exiting the tube to combust.

Above is the anticipated design of the device.

About the Project

Global warming due to the use of non-renewable energy is one of the most pressing problems in the modern world because the supply of these sources cannot be relied on in the long term and continuous use of these substances are detrimental to the environment. Problems commonly associated with the use of non-renewable energy is the depletion of the ozone layer of the earth and the subsequent rise in global temperatures. Finding an alternative source of fuel would be taking a positive step towards protecting the planet against the consequences of climate change, protecting many of the Earth's natural habitats and minimizing the damage from natural disasters caused by climate change. 

To combat climate change, we must ascertain if there are renewable and environment friendly alternatives to the non-renewable fuel sources currently used. Both nuclear and solar power show promise as potential replacements, and have shown to be most effective. Nuclear power, however, is still not widely used so researching into utilizing and maximizing the efficiency of solar technology is  a promising investment. 

For my Senior Research Project, I aim to build and maximize the efficiency of a solar powered water splitting device. The device would break water into its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen gases, via electrodes using energy collected by a solar panel. The hydrogen gas could then be combusted and used as a source for fuel. Although a small device, I aim to develop technology that could be used as a model for more complex devices as well as serve as a point of discussion for other renewable innovations. 

Research Proposal
(Subject to Change)

Title of Project

Enhancing the Efficiency of the Solar Water Splitting Technology

Statement of Purpose

This research proposal aims to demonstrate the use of renewable methods to generate usable energy. In researching, I will try to determine whether or not solar power can be used to provide the energy to split water into its constituents, hydrogen and oxygen, so that there is enough hydrogen to be useful for combustion. I will then further research how to make the device more efficient.

Background

As a future electrical engineering student, I find this topic interesting because it gives me my first experience in the field. Solar water splitting involves using the energy gathered from solar panels to reverse the process of water formation. This energy is transferred via metal tubes to break down the water molecules into their constituents, H₂ and O₂, in their gaseous state. The gases are then collected and combusted to provide usable energy. The reverse reaction requires a minimum input of 1.23 eV according to current research and I will attempt to devise the most efficient method to exceed this threshold and maximize combustion. I have taken Advanced Placement Chemistry and Physics so I am prepared to study this topic. After reading about engineering, I have found it enjoyable to apply concepts from many of the different subjects I have taken to create devices and I am therefore excited to start my research.

Significance

The use of nonrenewable sources for power generation is a global issue because the supply of these sources can’t be guaranteed forever.  Solar and nuclear energy provide the most output energy for the amount of input energy. However, nuclear power is still not as widespread as solar, therefore researching in building and maximizing the efficiency of solar powered energy sources is a promising investment because it could be a potential renewable replacement for nonrenewable energy. Because the combustion of nonrenewable energy and the subsequent release of greenhouse gases has been linked to global warming, investigating whether or not solar power would serve as an effective alternative is critical to protecting the environment from the consequences of increasing global temperatures. My research is therefore important because it takes a step towards innovating technology to aid in this initiative.

Research Methodology

In order to complete my research project, I will be working alongside my professor in his lab. We will first use batteries to determine which voltage is most efficient for the process before obtaining a solar panel and using solar energy for the same process. Using copper metal tubes, a container, water, salts, sealing, panels/batteries and other materials, I will build and improve upon a device to split water into oxygen and hydrogen. If the emitted gas (hydrogen) burns, then it will be an indicator of a successful working device. I may use library books, research papers, and scientific manuscripts to aid in my understanding and to discover methods others may be using to make similar devices to improve upon the efficiency of my own device.

Anticipated Problems

The problems I may encounter while researching are mainly issues with the functioning of the device. I would have to figure out first and foremost how to seal the container edges and the gaps where holes are made to ensure there is no gas (hydrogen) leakage when the experiment is performed. I would have to figure out which salt would be best to ionize in the water and whether or not the concentration of the salt will affect the efficiency of the process. I would have to determine which metal would be best to conduct electricity from the panels to the water and the diameter these tubes and the gas collection tube should be. I would also have to figure out which voltage would make the reaction run most smoothly. If the reaction doesn’t work as planned, I would have to check all of these variables, and possibly others I have not considered, to find the source of the problem.

Bibliography
Coveney, Donna. "Solar-Power Breakthrough." MIT Technology Review. N.p., 31 July 2008. Web. 10 Dec. 2015.
Payne Research Group. "Solar Water Splitting." SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF FUNCTIONAL OXIDE MATERIALS. N.p., 25 Sept. 2011. Web. 10 Dec. 2015