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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/K023004/1
Title: Energy and the Physical Sciences: Hydrogen Production using a Proton Electron Buffer
Principal Investigator: Cronin, Professor L
Other Investigators:
Symes, Professor MD
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: School of Chemistry
Organisation: University of Glasgow
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 30 September 2013 Ends: 29 September 2017 Value (£): 366,690
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Catalysis & Applied Catalysis Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Manufacturing
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
05 Dec 2012 EPSRC Physical Sciences Materials - December 2012 Announced
Summary on Grant Application Form
We propose to develop 'proton-electron-buffers' (PEBs) using redox-active polyoxometalate (POM) clusters that will be able, for the first time, to address the problem of simultaneous oxygen and hydrogen production during the electrolysis of water. It is anticipated that the use of a PEB in the water-splitting reaction will allow new catalysts, electrodes, and device architectures to be employed in electrolysers, and we will investigate both these new designs and the use of PEBs with exisiting electrolyser technology. Using a PEB in an electrolyser could also bring significant advantages with regards to intermittent power supplies (such as renewables) by reducing the instantaneous voltages required for electrolysis to occur. There could also be significant advantages In addition to exploring water splitting through the paradigm of the proton-electron-buffer, we will also explore the use of reduced polyoxometalate clusters as an intermediate "fuel source", by reacting the reduced PEBs with reducible chemical substrates to produce storable fuels. Thus this work could pave the way to a totally new route to 'clean' low-carbon H2 production temporally separated from the production of oxygen, as well as reducing energy consumption through technological advances informed by a whole system understanding as highlighted by the RCUK Energy Programme.
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Organisation Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk