Solid Oxide Electrolysis of H2O and CO2 to Produce Hydrogen and Low-Carbon Fuels

Yun Zheng; Zhongwei Chen; Jiujun Zhang

doi:10.1007/s41918-021-00097-4

Electrochemical Energy Reviews ›› 2021, Vol. 4 ›› Issue (3) : 508 -517. DOI: 10.1007/s41918-021-00097-4

Perspective

Solid Oxide Electrolysis of H₂O and CO₂ to Produce Hydrogen and Low-Carbon Fuels

Author information +

¹College of Sciences, Institute for Sustainable Energy, Shanghai University, 200444, Shanghai, China

²Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, N2L 3G1, Waterloo, ON, Canada

^b zhwchen@uwaterloo.ca

^c jiujun.zhang@i.shu.edu.cn

Yun Zheng

is a post-doctoral fellow from the Department of Chemical Engineering at University of Waterloo, Canada. He received his PhD in chemical engineering and technology from Tsinghua University in 2019, His research interests are electrochemical energy storage and conversion, especially for the research of composite solid-state electrolyte for lithium metal battery, high temperature electrolysis of CO₂/H₂O to produce sustainable fuels using solid oxide electrolysis cells, as well as the heterostructured electrode materials for solid oxide fuel cells.

Zhongwei Chen

is Canada Research Chair (CRC-Tier 1) Professor in Advanced Materials for Clean Energy at the University of Waterloo, Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Engineering, Director of Waterloo Center for Electrochemical Energy, Associate Editor of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (ACS-AMI), and Vice President of International Academy of Electrochemical Energy Science (IAOEES). His research interests are in the development of advanced electrochemical energy materials and systems for fuel cells and batteries. He has published more than 350 peer reviewed journal articles with over 31000 citations with a H-index of 88.

Jiujun Zhang

is a Professor at Shanghai University, and former Principal Research Officer at the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Dr. Zhang received his BS and MSc in electrochemistry from Peking University in 1982 and 1985, respectively, and his PhD in electrochemistry from Wuhan University in 1988. He then carried out three terms of postdoctoral research at the California Institute of Technology, York University, and the University of British Columbia. Dr. Zhang has over 30 years of scientific research experience, particularly in the area of electrochemical energy storage and conversion. He is also the Adjunct Professor at the University of British Columbia and the University of Waterloo.

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Abstract

Abstract

Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) including the oxygen ion-conducting SOEC (O-SOEC) and the proton-conducting SOEC (H-SOEC) have been actively investigated as next-generation electrolysis technologies that can provide high-energy conversion efficiencies for H₂O and CO₂ electrolysis to sustainably produce hydrogen and low-carbon fuels, thus providing higher-temperature routes for energy storage and conversion. Current research has also focused on the promotion of SOEC critical components to accelerate wider practical implementation. Based on these investigations, this perspective will summarize the most recent progress in the optimization of electrolysis performance and long-term stability of SOECs, with an emphasis on material developments, technological approaches and improving strategies, such as nano-composing, surface/interface engineering, doping and in situ exsolution. Existing technical challenges are also analyzed, and future research directions are proposed to achieve SOEC technical maturity and economic feasibility for diverse conversion applications.

Graphical Abstract

Solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs), including oxygen ion-conducting SOEC (O-SOEC) and proton-conducting SOEC (H-SOEC), have been actively investigated as one type of next generation electrolysis technologies with high-energy conversion efficiencies, which provide higher-temperature routes for energy storage and conversion.

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Yun Zheng, Zhongwei Chen, Jiujun Zhang. Solid Oxide Electrolysis of H₂O and CO₂ to Produce Hydrogen and Low-Carbon Fuels. Electrochemical Energy Reviews, 2021, 4(3): 508-517 DOI:10.1007/s41918-021-00097-4