(Invited) CA Hydrogen Hub and Advanced Electrolysis R&D at LBNL

Widespread use of hydrogen energy is contingent on the development of reliable and economical sources of hydrogen. This is seen in DOE’s Hydrogen Energy Earthshot goal of production of hydrogen of $1 per 1 kg in 1 decade, as well as the Regional Hydrogen Hub Program. Endemic to reaching these cost metrics using renewable, clean electricity as a feedstock is the use of electrolysis. Prime among the electrolysis technologies are those utilizing ion-conducting polymers (ionomers) including polymer-electrolyte water electrolyzer (PEWE), high-temperature solid-oxide electrolyzer (SOEC), and those using liquid alkaline systems (LAWE). However, these technologies need to exhibit increased efficiency, (dynamic) performance, and durability to reduce costs and be commercially viable. In this talk, we will overview some of these technologies through the lens of recent advances at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. In addition, key to enabling a hydrogen ecosystem is the deployment of various hydrogen technologies at scale in resilient and sustainable system. Recently, the Alliance of Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES), a collective representing the CA region, was selected for negotiation with DOE as a hydrogen hub. In this talk, an overview of ARCHES and its approach will be given. Finally, like most electrochemical devices, PEWEs involve multiple components (e.g., catalyst, ionomer, transport layers, membrane, plates) and multiple phases, with phenomena occurring across different time and length scales. Key in PEWE technologies is the interface between the ionomer and the catalyst. In this talk, time-permitting, recent results from the Center for Ionomer-based Water Electrolysis (CIWE) will be introduced including the description of interfacial properties and double layers at this interface.