The realization of a sustainable green hydrogen economy, a cornerstone of global carbon neutrality goals, necessitates significant advancements in the efficiency, operational costs, and capital expenditure of industrial-scale water electrolysis. A persistent challenge in high-current-density electrolysis is the substantial generation of gaseous hydrogen and oxygen at electrode surfaces, leading to increased ohmic resistance and hindered mass transport within the electrolyte. A fundamental understanding of the intricate bubble departure dynamics from electrode surfaces and their interaction with the surrounding electrolyte is crucial for developing effective bubble management strategies. Building upon the established impact of electrolyte properties on bubble detachment, this Ph.D. project aims to maximize the performance of water electrolyzers through targeted engineering of the electrolyte for optimized gas bubble management. This research will investigate, both through advanced simulations and experiments for validation, the precise influence of specific electrolyte properties (e.g., concentration, conductivity, viscosity, surface tension) and operating conditions (e.g., temperature, current density) on key bubble parameters, including nucleation, growth rate, detachment diameter, and departure frequency, across various electrode materials and geometries relevant to industrial electrolyzers. The project will establish robust quantitative relationships connecting these electrolyte and operational parameters to bubble departure characteristics. The ultimate goal is to develop predictive models and practical guidelines for the design of electrolyte formulations and operating regimes that inherently promote rapid and efficient gas bubble detachment, minimize bubble-induced resistance, and maximize mass transport, thereby leading to significantly enhanced energy efficiency and potentially higher operating current densities in water electrolyzers. This research will contribute directly to lowering the costs associated with green hydrogen production, facilitating its broader deployment as a critical enabler of a carbon-neutral energy system. Background required: Bachelors or Masters degree in Chemical, Mechanical or Energy Engineering, or related areas. Strong interest and background in mathematical modeling is desirable. Good understanding of basic Electrical Engineering is desirable.
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