Hydrogen energy in Indian context and R&D efforts at Banaras Hindu University

Abstract

This paper describes Hydrogen energy in India and R&D efforts at Banaras Hindu University. All the three important ingredients i.e. production, storage and application of hydrogen have been dealt with. As regards hydrogen production, we have described and discussed the solar route consisting of photoelectrochemical electrolysis of water. Nanostructured TiO₂ films have been synthesized through hydrolysis of Ti[OCH(CH₃)₂]₄. This has been used as photoanode. Modular designs of TiO₂ photoelectrode based PEC cells have been fabricated to get high rate of hydrogen production (∼10.35 Lh⁻¹m⁻²). Regarding storage which appears to be most crucial issue at present, we have discussed the intermetallic as well as complex hydride systems. For intermetallic we have dealt with materials tailoring of LaNi₅ through Fe substituion. The La(Ni_1−xFe_x)₅ (x=0.16) has been found to yield to high storage capacity of ∼2.40wt%. We have also described and discussed the hydrogen storage in carbon nanofibres. Here storage capacity in excess of ∼10wt% has been obtained. We have shown that CNT admixing in NaAlH₄ helps to circumvent the low desorption rate of hydrogen in NaAlH₄. For 8 mol % CNT admixing, we have found the desorption rate to increase from ∼3.3 in more than 50 hrs to within 2 hrs. Relating to applications, we have focused on use of hydrogen (stored in intermetallic La‐Ni‐Fe system) as fuel for IC engine based vehicular transport particularly 2 and 3‐wheelers (and small car). The 2 and 3‐wheeler have nearly the same performance as the petrol fueled vehicles. At present we have vehicle range of ∼60–80 kms for 2‐wheelers and ∼60 kms for 3‐wheelers (at top speed of ∼50 kms/hr). Commercialization efforts on hydrogen fueled vehicular transport is being done by BHU:HEC with the help of Indian auto industries.

Keywords:

• Nanostructured
• TiO₂
• Hydrogen production rate
• Modular PEC solar cells
• Intermetallic hydrides
• Complex hydrides
• Hydrogen vehicles

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Prof. A.R. Verma, Prof. C.N.R. Rao, Prof. R. Chidambaram, Prof. S.K. Joshi, Prof. S. P. Thyagrajan and Prof. Panjab Singh for their encouragement and support. Financial support from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Sources and the University Grants Commission is thankfully acknowledged.