Geração de hidrogênio em materiais metálicos por cronoamperometria: avaliação energética e econômica

Abstract

The production of molecular hydrogen through electrochemical processes has emerged as a strategic alternative in response to the growing demand for clean and sustainable energy solutions. This study aimed to investigate hydrogen generation via electrolytic hydrogenation using the chronoamperometry technique in a 3.5% (w/v) NaCl solution, assessing the influence of test duration (1h and 3h) on the electrochemical efficiency and energy consumption of different metallic materials. The core motivation lies in the need to identify more efficient and economically viable materials for industrial electrolysis applications, especially in regions with a strong presence of renewable energy sources in the power grid, such as in northeastern Brazil. The experimental procedures were conducted exclusively with the aluminum-silicon alloy AISI 360.X, and the results were compared with previously obtained data for carbon steels, stainless steels, maraging steels, and special alloys, under identical electrochemical conditions. Hydrogen production was quantified using Faraday’s Law, and the data were normalized based on electrical resistance to ensure fair comparisons. The AISI 360.X alloy showed the highest specific hydrogen production and the lowest cost per cm2, despite its higher energy consumption, standing out as one of the most technically and economically competitive options. Other materials, such as carbon steels, also exhibited favorable performance when evaluated from a cost-benefit perspective. The results highlight the importance of chemical composition, electrical conductivity, and microstructure in selecting materials for hydrogen generation technologies.