Decoupling hydrogen production from water oxidation by integrating a triphase interfacial bioelectrochemical cascade reaction

Jun Zhang; Xia Sheng; Zhenyao Ding; Haili Wang; Lai Feng; Xiqi Zhang; Liping Wen; Lei Jiang; Xinjian Feng

doi:10.1016/j.scib.2020.08.010

Decoupling hydrogen production from water oxidation by integrating a triphase interfacial bioelectrochemical cascade reaction

Sci Bull (Beijing). 2021 Jan 30;66(2):164-169. doi: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.08.010. Epub 2020 Aug 6.

Authors

Jun Zhang¹, Xia Sheng¹, Zhenyao Ding¹, Haili Wang¹, Lai Feng², Xiqi Zhang³, Liping Wen³, Lei Jiang⁴, Xinjian Feng⁵

Affiliations

¹ College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China.
² College of Energy, Soochow Institute for Energy and Materials Innovations, Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interfacial Science, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China; School of Future Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 101407, China.
⁵ College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China. Electronic address: xjfeng@suda.edu.cn.

PMID: 36654224
DOI: 10.1016/j.scib.2020.08.010

Abstract

Water electrolysis to produce H₂ is a promising strategy for generating a renewable fuel. However, the sluggish-kinetics and low value-added anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) restricts the overall energy conversion efficiency. Herein we report a strategy of boosting H₂ production at low voltages by replacing OER with a bioelectrochemical cascade reaction at a triphase bioanode. In the presence of oxygen, oxidase enzymes can convert biomass into valuable products, and concurrently generate H₂O₂ that can be further electrooxidized at the bioanode. Benefiting from the efficient oxidase kinetics at an oxygen-rich triphase bioanode and the more favorable thermodynamics of H₂O₂ oxidation than that of OER, the cell voltage and energy consumption are reduced by ~0.70 V and ~36%, respectively, relative to regular water electrolysis. This leads to an efficient H₂ production at the cathode and valuable product generation at the bioanode. Integration of a bioelectrochemical cascade into the water splitting process provides an energy-efficient and promising pathway for achieving a renewable fuel.

Keywords: Bioelectrochemical cascade reaction; Hydrogen production; Oxidase; Water electrolysis.