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10 Hydrogen Future: Toward Industrial Applications
principle future markets for hydrogen are predominantly based on following factors
[5]:
i. The price of hydrogen fuel.
ii. The relative rate of advancements and developments in different technologies
associated with hydrogen.
iii. Potential constraints on generation or emission of greenhouse gases
iv. The price of contending energy structures.
Hydrogen has scored the prime position in the race of future fuels, owing to its
several economic, social, and environmental advantages. It has a long-lasting ability
to minimize the dependency on fossil oil (which has to be imported at high price in
several cases) and minimizing the emission of carbon oxides and other greenhouse
gases [6].
Many areas in the generation of hydrogen are assumed to be improved with the use
of nanotechnology in terms of cost and efficiency. The abovementioned assumption
has been drawn from the ongoing research on nanotechnology, in production and
storage of hydrogen. In the previous chapters, the authors have tried to explain the
importance of nanotechnology in the generation and storage of sustainable hydrogen.
Though nanotechnology is paving the path for the smooth supply of hydrogen to
the consumers for a variety of applications. However, the room for progress and
development is still there for the commercialization of the fuel.
Here some of the potential solutions are listed, which nanotechnology can offer
toward the commercialization of hydrogen:
1. One of the most important sources of hydrogen generation is water. Water liberates hydrogen and oxygen via water splitting reaction. The hydrogen yield
from water splitting reactions has been augmented to several folds by the use
of different nanomaterials. For instance, quantum dots of carbon supported on
monolayer of layer C 3 N have increased the efficiency of water splitting reaction
without the mixing of the gases [7]. In similar manner, various metallic nanoparticles [8], nanotubes [9], nanosheets [10], and other nanomaterials are serving the
splitting of water for generation of hydrogen. The nanomaterials are better alternatives to the conventional catalysts of the reactions. The current study suggests
that the nanomaterials must be optimized on the basis of required application,
geographic location, and the available materials for achieving the efficient water
splitting reaction.
2. Hydrocarbons are also used as the substrate for the generation of hydrogen.
Different processes of hydrocarbon decarbonization for H 2 generation utilize
nanotechnology. For instance, steam reforming of hydrocarbons for hydrogen
production is proving to be more resourceful via the use of nanotechnology
[11]. In similar way, the partial oxidation [12] and photocatalytic activation [13]
of hydrocarbons for generation of hydrogen is proven to be benefitted from
nanotechnology. The current investigation proposed the utilization of less used
or harmful hydrocarbons (aromatics) for the production of hydrogen instead
of highly used hydrocarbons (methane). The applications of nanotechnology
10 Hydrogen Future: Toward Industrial Applications
principle future markets for hydrogen are predominantly based on following factors
[5]:
i. The price of hydrogen fuel.
ii. The relative rate of advancements and developments in different technologies
associated with hydrogen.
iii. Potential constraints on generation or emission of greenhouse gases
iv. The price of contending energy structures.
Hydrogen has scored the prime position in the race of future fuels, owing to its
several economic, social, and environmental advantages. It has a long-lasting ability
to minimize the dependency on fossil oil (which has to be imported at high price in
several cases) and minimizing the emission of carbon oxides and other greenhouse
gases [6].
Many areas in the generation of hydrogen are assumed to be improved with the use
of nanotechnology in terms of cost and efficiency. The abovementioned assumption
has been drawn from the ongoing research on nanotechnology, in production and
storage of hydrogen. In the previous chapters, the authors have tried to explain the
importance of nanotechnology in the generation and storage of sustainable hydrogen.
Though nanotechnology is paving the path for the smooth supply of hydrogen to
the consumers for a variety of applications. However, the room for progress and
development is still there for the commercialization of the fuel.
Here some of the potential solutions are listed, which nanotechnology can offer
toward the commercialization of hydrogen:
1. One of the most important sources of hydrogen generation is water. Water liberates hydrogen and oxygen via water splitting reaction. The hydrogen yield
from water splitting reactions has been augmented to several folds by the use
of different nanomaterials. For instance, quantum dots of carbon supported on
monolayer of layer C 3 N have increased the efficiency of water splitting reaction
without the mixing of the gases [7]. In similar manner, various metallic nanoparticles [8], nanotubes [9], nanosheets [10], and other nanomaterials are serving the
splitting of water for generation of hydrogen. The nanomaterials are better alternatives to the conventional catalysts of the reactions. The current study suggests
that the nanomaterials must be optimized on the basis of required application,
geographic location, and the available materials for achieving the efficient water
splitting reaction.
2. Hydrocarbons are also used as the substrate for the generation of hydrogen.
Different processes of hydrocarbon decarbonization for H 2 generation utilize
nanotechnology. For instance, steam reforming of hydrocarbons for hydrogen
production is proving to be more resourceful via the use of nanotechnology
[11]. In similar way, the partial oxidation [12] and photocatalytic activation [13]
of hydrocarbons for generation of hydrogen is proven to be benefitted from
nanotechnology. The current investigation proposed the utilization of less used
or harmful hydrocarbons (aromatics) for the production of hydrogen instead
of highly used hydrocarbons (methane). The applications of nanotechnology