Water electrolysis is the use of electricity to split liquid water into gaseous hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen produced can be used as a fuel or as an industrial feedstock, most notably for making fertilizers. Because the underlying chemical reaction does not itself produce greenhouse gases, electrolysis can carry a lower emissions footprint than producing hydrogen from fossil fuels, such as through steam reforming, when the electricity used to run it is itself low carbon.
Facts
Technology Type Invented YearAn earlier 1789 electrostatic-machine experiment by Deiman and van Troostwijk preceded this; 1800, Nicholson and Carlisle using Volta's new voltaic pile, is the date usually credited for water electrolysis. Classification
MaturityTRL 9: Actual System Proven in Operational Environment 1 Sources
1. Wikipedia: Electrolysis of water
WikipediaHistory sectionQuote, History section
In 1800, Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile, while a few weeks later English scientists William Nicholson and Anthony Carlisle used it to electrolyse water.
Electrolysis (Wikipedia)
In Group: Water Electrolysis, LeadQuote, In Group: Water Electrolysis, Lead
In chemistry and manufacturing, electrolysis is a technique that uses direct electric current (DC) to drive an otherwise non-spontaneous biological and physical reaction.
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