Green energy breakthroughs credited to inventor Alexey Serov, focusing on hydrogen-powered fuel cells as a sustainable fuel source.
Alexey Serov, a researcher at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), is making significant strides in the field of green hydrogen fuel cell technology. His work focuses on developing cheaper and more sustainable alternatives to traditional, expensive metals used in electrocatalysts.
Similarities with Batteries and Electrolysis
Like batteries, both electrolyzers and fuel cells have positively and negatively charged electrodes and an electrocatalyst. The main difference lies in their purpose: while batteries store energy, electrolyzers and fuel cells convert and utilize energy. In the case of electrolysis, this process involves splitting water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.
Green Hydrogen and Clean Energy
When the electricity powering electrolysis comes from a clean energy source like wind or solar, the resulting product is called "green" hydrogen. This green hydrogen is the focus of Serov's research, as he seeks to convert it into a viable and affordable energy source.
A Cheap Substitute for Platinum
Serov has discovered a material made from iron, carbon, and nitrogen that can serve as a cheap substitute for platinum in fuel cells. This material can be made from partially burned biological or organic materials, making it both cost-effective and environmentally friendly.
Patents and Collaborations
With 84 patents and at least 35 more under review, Serov is a prolific inventor. He is also providing national leadership as deputy director of a new DOE Roll-2-Roll, a multilab collaboration to scale up production of electrocatalyst materials and speed up electrode production processes.
Reducing Platinum Group Metal Use
Serov is working on reducing the amount of platinum group metal iridium in the catalyst while keeping fuel cell efficiency. The current demand for iridium is unsustainable due to its use in other industries, making Serov's work crucial for the future of green hydrogen technology.
Dissolving Metallic Iridium
One of Serov's most significant inventions is a method to dissolve metallic iridium in less than three days. This discovery could revolutionize the field of green hydrogen fuel cells, making them more affordable and accessible.
Background and Collaborations
Serov joined ORNL in 2021 and expanded his focus to include not only utilizing hydrogen fuel but producing it and using it for purposes outside transportation. He has a background in organic chemistry and has worked in South Korea, Switzerland, and the United States, where he has made significant contributions to fuel cell technology and the study of short-lived, highly radioactive isotopes.
Serov represents ORNL in three other DOE hydrogen research initiatives, including the Million Mile Fuel Cell Truck Consortium, which aims to commercialize hydrogen-powered long haul trucks with zero emissions.
Future Applications
Producing and using hydrogen fuel requires a process called electrolysis, and Serov's research focuses on green hydrogen fuel cells that convert hydrogen and oxygen into heat, water, and electricity. This energy can be used in various sectors of the economy for rapid decarbonization, such as hydrogen chemical synthesis for producing ammonia and other industrial chemicals, substituting hydrogen for coke in steel production, and creating long-term electric grid storage for excess energy produced by solar and wind farms.
References:
- Iron selenophosphate (FePSe3) as a multifunctional, stable electrocatalyst in water splitting and fuel cells.
- Serov’s studies on instability issues of Pt/C and Pd/C catalysts in alkaline media.
- Advances in membrane materials enhancing alkaline water electrolysis performance and durability, relevant for integrated green hydrogen fuel cells.
- Alexey Serov is working on various technologies to balance the tradeoffs between using more material and increasing the size and weight of fuel cells.
- Alexey Serov's research at ORNL is centered on developing green hydrogen fuel cell technology, focusing on cheaper and more sustainable alternatives to traditional electrocatalysts.
- In the process of electrolysis, water molecules are split into hydrogen and oxygen when electricity from clean energy sources, like wind or solar, is utilized.
- Serov has discovered a material composed of iron, carbon, and nitrogen that can serve as a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to the expensive metal platinum in fuel cells.
- With 84 patents and 35 more under review, Serov is a prolific inventor, providing national leadership as deputy director of a DOE collaboration to scale up production of electrocatalyst materials.
- Serov's research aims to reduce the use of iridium in catalysts, a metal currently in high demand for green hydrogen technology and other industries, making it unsustainable.
- One of Serov's significant inventions is a method to dissolve metallic iridium in less than three days, which could potentially make green hydrogen fuel cells more affordable.
- Beyond transportation, Serov's focus includes producing and using hydrogen fuel for various sectors of the economy, such as hydrogen chemical synthesis, steel production, and long-term electric grid storage.
- Serov's work on green hydrogen fuel cells could have a significant impact on the housing market, real estate, and sustainable living by enabling renewable energy solutions for homes and gardens.
- Collaborating with other researchers, Serov is part of multiple DOE hydrogen research initiatives aimed at commercializing hydrogen-powered vehicles and innovation in various industries.
- As our planet grapples with climate change, technologies like green hydrogen fuel cells, made possible by innovations from researchers like Serov, are seen as crucial for transitioning to a clean energy future.
