High Rate - High Efficiency Water Electrolysis using 3D Isotropic nanoCatalysts coatings for clean energy solutions

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High Rate - High Efficiency Water Electrolysis
using 3D Isotropic nanoCatalysts coatings for
clean energy solutions

• Robert Dopp
• DoppStein Enterprises / GridShift, Inc.
• Presentation to
• U.S. Department of Energy
• Washington, DC 20585
• October 14, 2010

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Outline

• Introduction Robert Dopp and Gridshift
• Introduction On Demand Stationary Power
  supply- Clean sustainable energy systems.
• GridShift nanoCatalysts producing up to 80
  energy efficient, cost-effective, full demo cells
• Bipolar electrolysis with nanoCatalyst -coated
  flat plates for Bipolar Systems - Rate lt350
  mA/cm2
• Monopolar electrolysis using 3D nanoCatalyst
  electrodes for Monopolar Systems -Rates gt1
  Amp/cm2
• GridShift Alkaline Fuel Cell Projections
• GridShift Hydrogen Flow Cell
• Next Steps

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Introducing Robert Dopp

• Robert Dopp is well known in the Zinc Air and
  battery world with over 30 years experience.
• Principle Engineer at Rayovac Corp. on the Zinc
  Air project - 18 Years
• Director of Research at Electric Fuel of Biet
  Shemesh Israel - 6 years
• CEO DoppStein Enterprises (DSE) - 9 years
• CEO Gridshift Inc. (GS) - 2 years
• Proficiency includes Batteries, Fuel Cells and
  Hydrogen generation from water electrolysis.
• 39 Issued patents and 16 in the office in energy
  related fields
• Consults to Fuel Cell, Battery and Materials
  companies.
• Offers a depth of knowledge in battery systems
  with freedom flexibility from his independent
  laboratory.
• Developed a very high rate and high efficiency
  electrolyzer.
• Developed the highest rate air cathode in the
  world.

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Introducing Gridshift (GS)

• Founded in December 2008
• Funded by Khosla Ventures
• Development began in 2007 as an Electrochemical
  Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR) for water
  electrolysis
• Physical challenges with an FBR, so GS developed
  a Solid-State FBR
• Project met milestones on time and under budget
• Vinod on Board of Directors and supportive

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Why H2 Production Systems?

• Benefits
• Small distributed electrolyzers (On demand,
  Automotive)
• Stationary large-scale electrolyzers
• Potential synergies with renewable energy power
  generating systems (wind, nuclear)
• No greenhouse gas emissions
• GS H2 Production Cost
• Challenges
• Auto - Safety
• Auto- NOx increase output with increased Temp
• DOE Cost goal 2.00-3.00/gge

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GS NanoCatalysis Coatings

• Proprietary multiple nanoparticle recipe/method
  using complex pulse-shaped coating/plating
  operation designed by GS.
• Isotropic, distribution of bezel-mounted
  nano-cabochons with uniform 2D/3D surface
  coverage.
• Excellent electrical contract from the current
  collector to the nanoCatalyst.

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GS NanoCatalysis 3D Coating of Foam Electrodes
Ni FOAM
GS NanoCatalysts coated FOAM
Isotropic, fully functional 3D
electrodes Enhanced current conduction for
optimized electrolysis
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Two-Cell Electrolyzer Parts
Au
Isotropically GS nanoCatalyst - coated electrodes
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Two-Cell Electrolyzer Assembled
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Half Cell - Voltammogram
Anode or Oxygen Generating Reaction
Current Density is Proportional to Gas Output
Cathode or Hydrogen Generating Reaction
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Flat-Plates Cell Voltage - FULL CELL

• GS 3D nanoCatalyst
• High-Rate
• Low Power
• High Efficiency
• Used for on Demand Electrolysis
• Or large stationary Electrolysis

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Energy Efficiency - Bipolar Electrolysis
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H2 Output for Flat Plates- GS High-Rate
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H2 Output for Flat Plates- GS High-Rate
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Half- Cell 3D Electrode Voltammogram
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Energy Efficiency vs.. Rate for GS 3D
nanoCatalyst coated foams FULL CELL
Raney Nickel
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Energy Efficiency vs.. Rate for GS 3D
nanoCatalyst coated foams FULL CELL
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H2 Output for GS nanoCatalyst-coated 3D Foam
Electrodes- FULL CELL
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Mass Balance (All current leading to
electrolysis. No ionic shunting)
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1000 Hour Test
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Applications for Water Electrolyzers

• Charging stations in homes for hydrogen powers
  vehicles
• Hydrogen generators at filling stations for
  hydrogen vehicles
• May be solar powered
• Synfuel Production
• CO H2
• Hydrolyze light bio-fuels into more useful fuels
• Methane fuel production
• Cobalt and Iron catalyzed H2 Cellulose --gt
  Methane
• Ammonia via the Haber-Bosch method for
  fertilizers
• Iron oxide catalyzed 3H2 N2 --gt 2NH3
• Combine with solar, wind or geothermal for many
  of above.
• Improved ICE efficiency
• Improved diffusivity, higher Octane , can use
  higher compression, faster flame-front speed,
  increases lean limit, etc.

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High Rate Alkaline Fuel Cell- AFC
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Hydrogen Flow Cell

• Using the GS high rate Electrolyzer, H2 and O2
  are produced during peak times
• When the sun shines
• When the wind blows
• When power is cheap
• Using the new GS AFC, stored gasses produce
  electricity
• When the sun does not shine
• When the wind is calm
• When power is expensive

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CONCLUSIONS

• Coating the interior surfaces of a complex shaped
  current collector with GS 3 D nanoCatalysts
  results in a very high rate - high efficiency
  electrolysis cell with a very low potential
  capital Cost.
• The GridShift 3D nanoCatalyst-coated full cell
  demonstrated up to 80 efficiency, is cost
  effective and reliably productive.
• Efficiency results may be optimized.
• Mass balance demonstrates data is accurate with
  no ionic shunting.
• Alkaline Fuel Cell is logical extension of work
• Hydrogen flow cell results when Fuel Cell is
  complete.

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Contact Information

• Robert Dopp Sharon Stein
• Office 770 649 1933
• Bobs (CEO) Mobile [phone]
• Sharons (CFO) Mobile [phone]
• rbdopp_at_grid-shift.com
• www.grid-shift.com
• Share folder www.grid-shift.com/doe