Photocatalyst-free seawater hydrogen sulfide splitting for hydrogen production

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a method for producing hydrogen comprising providing seawater containing dissolved sodium chloride (NaCl), introducing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas into the seawater to form a reaction mixture containing dissolved H2S and bisulfide ions (HS−), exposing the reaction mixture to solar irradiation in the absence of any photocatalyst, and generating hydrogen gas through photoexcitation of the bisulfide ions and seawater splitting facilitated by the dissolved H2S species. The seawater has a NaCl concentration of approximately 3.5 wt. %. The reaction mixture is maintained at ambient temperature during the solar irradiation. The hydrogen gas generation occurs through multiple reaction pathways comprising excimer formation, water interaction with excited bisulfide ions, and radical-mediated electron transfer. The H2S gas is continuously flowed through the reaction mixture. The dissolved H2S species induce morphological changes in NaCl crystals from smooth surfaces to fragmented, flake-like structures.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.