Biomass Electrolysis for Concurrent Production of Hydrogen and Value-Added Chemicals

Abstract

Water electrolysis allows sustainable production of hydrogen using renewable electricity. In typical electrolysis, oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is used as an oxidative half-reaction but is a highly challenging task that requires high overpotential and has stability issues even with expensive noble metal-based catalysts. In addition, it produces problematic oxygen gas, which raises safety and cost issues. In this regard, various OER alternatives have been investigated to address such issues. In this symposium, I will summarize recent progress in the exploration of alternative electron sources, particularly based on biomass. Also, I will share our recent achievement in the extraction of electrons from solid lignocellulosic biomass using molecular oxide clusters as a catalyst for biomass depolymerization and an electron mediator. By using such biomass, we can not only reduce the energy consumption for electrochemical hydrogen production but also produce value-added chemicals from biomass depolymerization. The implication of biomass electrolysis will also be discussed from a biorefinery perspective.