Hydrogen generator
A hydrogen generator includes a base including a first material that includes a semiconductor, glass, or ceramic, a cathode extending from the base, where the cathode includes the first material and is configured to facilitate generation of hydrogen in the presence of an electrolytic solution that includes water, an anode extending from the base, where the anode includes the first material and is configured to facilitate generation of oxygen in the presence of the electrolytic solution, where the base, the cathode, and the anode define a cavity, and a lid including a second material that includes a semiconductor, glass, or ceramic, the lid forming a first outlet between the cathode and the lid and a second outlet between the anode and the lid, where the hydrogen is configured to exit the cavity via the first outlet and the oxygen is configured to exit the cavity via the second outlet.
1 . A hydrogen generator comprising:
a base comprising a first material that comprises a semiconductor, a glass, or a ceramic;
a cathode extending from the base, wherein the cathode comprises the first material and is configured to facilitate generation of hydrogen in the presence of an electrolytic solution that comprises water;
an anode extending from the base, wherein the anode comprises the first material and is configured to facilitate generation of oxygen in the presence of the electrolytic solution, wherein the base, the cathode, and the anode define a cavity; and
a lid comprising a second material that comprises a semiconductor, a glass, or a ceramic, the lid forming a first outlet between the cathode and the lid and a second outlet between the anode and the lid, wherein the hydrogen is configured to exit the cavity via the first outlet and the oxygen is configured to exit the cavity via the second outlet.
2 . The hydrogen generator of claim 1 , wherein the first material or the second material is monocrystalline or polycrystalline.
3 . The hydrogen generator of claim 1 , wherein the first material or the second material is doped with boron, indium, phosphorus, or lanthanum.
4 . The hydrogen generator of claim 1 , wherein the cathode and the anode each comprise:
a first portion comprising the first material; and
a second portion that is supported by the first portion, wherein the second portion comprises a conductive material.
5 . The hydrogen generator of claim 4 , wherein the conductive material comprises platinum, copper, a perovskite material, or lanthanum ferrite.
6 . The hydrogen generator of claim 1 , wherein the cathode and the anode are in contact with the base.
7 . The hydrogen generator of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first power supply configured to generate a first electric field within the cavity between the anode and the cathode; and
a second power supply configured to generate a second electric field within the cavity that is substantially perpendicular to the first electric field.
8 . The hydrogen generator of claim 1 , wherein the base, the cathode, and the anode form a singular structure.
9 . The hydrogen generator of claim 1 , wherein the base further comprises a hydrophilic material on a surface of the base between the cathode and the anode.
10 . A method of manufacturing a hydrogen generator, the method comprising:
etching a first material that comprises a semiconductor, a glass, or a ceramic to form:
a base;
a cathode extending from the base; and
an anode extending from the base;
forming a lid comprising a second material that comprises a semiconductor, a glass, or a ceramic; and
bonding the lid to the anode and the cathode to form a cavity, where in the lid forms a first outlet between the cathode and the lid for hydrogen to exit the cavity and a second outlet between the anode and the lid for oxygen to exit the cavity.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first material is monocrystalline or polycrystalline.
12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising doping the cathode or the anode with boron, indium, phosphorus, or lanthanum.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein etching the first material to form the cathode and the anode comprises etching the first material to form a first portion of the cathode and a first portion of the anode, the method further comprising:
depositing a second portion of the cathode in contact with the first portion of the cathode, wherein the second portion of the cathode is conductive; and
depositing a second portion of the anode in contact with the first portion of the anode, wherein the second portion of the anode is conductive.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second portion of the cathode or the second portion of the anode comprises platinum, copper, a perovskite material, or lanthanum ferrite.
15 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising depositing a hydrophilic material on a surface of the base between the cathode and the anode.
16 . A method of operating a hydrogen generator, the method comprising:
flowing an electrolytic solution comprising water through a cavity, wherein the cavity is defined by a base, a cathode extending from the base, and an anode extending from the base of the hydrogen generator, and wherein the base, the cathode, and the anode each comprise a first material that comprises a semiconductor, a glass, or a ceramic; and
applying an electric field between the anode and the cathode while the anode and the cathode are immersed in the electrolytic solution, thereby:
generating hydrogen at the cathode such that the hydrogen exits the cavity via a first outlet by a lid of the hydrogen generator between the cathode and the lid, the lid comprising a second material that comprises a semiconductor, a glass, or a ceramic; and
generating oxygen at the anode such that the oxygen exits the cavity via a second outlet formed by the lid between the anode and the lid.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the electric field is a first electric field, the method further comprising: applying a second electric field within the cavity that is substantially perpendicular to the first electric field.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein flowing the electrolytic solution comprises flowing the electrolytic solution that comprises sodium chloride, potassium chloride, calcium chloride, or sodium hydroxide.
19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the hydrogen generator is a first hydrogen generator and the cavity is further defined by a second base, a second cathode, and a second anode of a second hydrogen generator, the method further comprising:
making a determination that a demand for the hydrogen has increased; and
applying, in response to making the determination, a second electric field between the second anode and the second cathode while the second anode and the second cathode are immersed in the electrolytic solution, thereby:
generating additional hydrogen at the second cathode such that the additional hydrogen exits the cavity via a third outlet formed between the second cathode and the lid; and
generating additional oxygen at the second anode such that the additional oxygen exits the cavity via a fourth outlet formed between the second anode and the lid.
20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
making a second determination that the demand for the hydrogen has decreased; and
disabling, in response to making the second determination, the second electric field.