|
Hydroelectric cell
|
|
A hydroelectric cell is a type of galvanic cell that produces electricity by dissociating water molecules. It has been invented by Dr. R. K. Kotnala and Dr. Jyoti Shah since 2016 at the National Physical Laboratory of India, New Delhi. Dissociation of water molecules at an oxygen-deficient, nano-porous ferrite/oxide surface creates hydronium and hydroxide ions collected by Ag and Zn electrodes respectively to generate electricity. Hence, the combination of nano-porous, oxygen-deficient magnesium ferrite/metal oxide along with Zn and Ag electrodes has been termed a hydroelectric cell. At room temperature, dissociation of water molecules requires 1.23 V potential, an external energy is required to split water molecules into their constituent ions. In a conventional way, this is carried out externally using ultraviolet light (UV), catalysts, photons, thermal, and biochemical means. A nano-porous surface of ferrite/oxide material provides highly reactive surfaces for dissociation of water molecules in to its constituent ions at room temperature which is generally available in adsorbed state. The cell's nano-porous surface provides chemi-dissociated H+ and OH- ions at initial stage and subsequently followed by copious physi-dissociation due to the high electric field developed inside nanopores, resulting in continuous generation of large numbers of ions. Zn (Zinc) and Ag (silver) electrodes attached on opposite surfaces of the ferrite/metal-oxide pellet separate and collect opposite polarity ions, resulting in the flow of electric current in the cell. A two-inch-diameter cell can develop a maximum voltage 0.98 V and a short-circuit current of 120 mA. Working principle A hydroelectric cell works on the principle of water dissociation on nanoporous oxygen-deficient ferrite/oxide pellet surface. The water molecules are initially Chemi-dissociated at oxygen-deficient nanoporous surface into H+ and OH- ions and subsequently followed by continuous physi-dissociation by electrostatic field developed due to trapped H+ inside nanopore on the pellet surface. Dissociated H+ and OH- ions migrate towards Silver (Ag) inert cathode and Zinc (Zn) anode respectively and are collected via these electrodes for current generation in external circuits. In this process 0.98 V & 70 mA is generated in 4.5 sq.cm Hydroelectric cell. Zinc is consumed in this reaction and slowly converted into Zn(OH)2 and highly pure hydrogen gas is evolved. Reaction mechanism At Lithium substituted Magnesium Ferrite : 4H<sub>2</sub>O → 2H<sub>3</sub>O + 2OH at anode (Zn): 2OH + Zn → Zn(OH)<sub>2</sub> + 2e (-0.76 V) at cathode (Ag): H<sub>3</sub>O + H<sub>3</sub>O + 2e → H<sub>2</sub>↑ + 2H<sub>2</sub>O (+0.22 V) Ecell 0.22 -( -.76) 0.98 V Design Fabricating a hydroelectric cell includes obtaining ferrite material by simple heat treatment by solid state reaction technique. A pellet of ferrite/metal oxide material is coated with comb patterned silver electrodes on one surface and the back surface of the cell is covered with Zinc electrode. Water is sprinkled on the surface of the cell while current is collected via two electrodes in an external circuit. 
|
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
Main Menu
| Home |
| Articles |
| Search |
| Submit Article |
| Contact Us |
| Donate to Wikibin |
