The properties of ethylamine dehydrogenation and electrolysis using platinum catalyst for efficient, ambient hydrogen production

Hydrogen serves as an important, clean energy carrier, which, however, has a challenge for its storage. Herein, we report the properties of ethylamine dehydrogenation (EDH) to acetonitrile under half-cell conditions and ethylamine electrolysis under full-cell conditions for fast, energy-efficient, ambient hydrogen release, which would couple with spontaneous acetonitrile hydrogenation to ethylamine for hydrogen uptake to realize hydrogen storage cycles under mild conditions. The influences of different reaction parameters on the EDH and ethylamine electrolysis properties are examined. The catalyst deactivation and regeneration mechanisms are investigated with aid of in situ ATR-FTIR characterizations. As fast as 309 mmol/h H2 production rate with 97% faradaic efficiency (FE) from cathode and acetonitrile production with 100% FE from anode are achieved with a low 0.6 V cell voltage, demonstrating a great potential of this new electrochemical approach for hydrogen storage application.(c) 2023 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study presents a combined method of ethylamine dehydrogenation (EDH) and ethylamine electrolysis, which allows for fast and efficient release of hydrogen at ambient conditions. The results show that high hydrogen production rate and acetonitrile production can be achieved under low voltage, demonstrating the great potential of this new electrochemical approach for hydrogen storage applications.