Study Identifies Critical Bubble Size for Green Hydrogen Production

A collaboration between researchers at Cornell and City University of Hong Kong has produced a new computational tool that could help overcome one surprisingly persistent obstacle to the efficient production of so-called green hydrogen: bubbles.

Green hydrogen, produced by splitting water using electricity from renewable sources, offers a promising alternative to fossil fuels, particularly for industries such as steelmaking and chemical manufacturing.

The researchers developed a computer model that reveals how bubbles forming during water electrolysis interfere with the process and increase the energy required to produce hydrogen. Their findings, published Nov. 9 in the journal EES Catalysis, identify a critical bubble size beyond which energy losses increase dramatically, providing a potential roadmap for designing more efficient hydrogen-producing equipment.

Read More at: Cornell University