The present disclosure provides for a composition that includes a modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite, method of making the modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite, an electrode having modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite surface and a photoelectrochemical cell including the electrode, and methods of photoelectrochemical oxidation of water. The modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite can be used in an electrode configuration, for example, in a photoelectrochemical cell for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of water. The present disclosure provides for a modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite that has a catechol compound(s) (e.g., oligo-catechol) adsorbed onto at least the M (metal) on the surface of the modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite.

The present disclosure provides for a composition that includes a modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite, method of making the modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite, an electrode having modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite surface and a photoelectrochemical cell including the electrode, and methods of photoelectrochemical oxidation of water. The modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite can be used in an electrode configuration, for example, in a photoelectrochemical cell for the photoelectrochemical oxidation of water. The present disclosure provides for a modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite that has a catechol compound(s) (e.g., oligo-catechol) adsorbed onto at least the M (metal) on the surface of the modified M/TiO.sub.2 composite.

An electrode catalyst for a water electrolysis cell includes a catalyst and a polymer of intrinsic microporosity, and the polymer of intrinsic microporosity is neutral.

The present invention realizes industrially excellent effects such that when electric power having a large output fluctuation, such as renewable energy, is used as a power source, electrolysis performance is unlikely to be deteriorated and excellent catalytic activity is retained stably over a longer period of time, and in addition, the present invention provides a technique that enables forming a catalyst layer of an oxygen generation anode, which gives such excellent effects, with a more versatile materials and by a simple electrolysis method. Provided are an alkaline water electrolysis method including supplying an electrolyte obtained by dispersing a catalyst containing a hybrid nickel-iron hydroxide nanosheet (NiFe-ns) being a composite of a metal hydroxide and an organic substance to an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and using the electrolyte for electrolysis in each chamber in common, an alkaline water electrolysis method including supplying an electrolyte obtained by dispersing a catalyst containing the NiFe-ns to an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and performing electrolytic deposition of the NiFe-ns in the electrolytic cell during operation to electrolytically deposit the NiFe-ns on a surface of an electrically conductive substrate having a catalyst layer formed on a surface of an oxygen generation anode, thereby recovering and improving electrolysis performance, and an alkaline water electrolysis anode.

The present invention realizes industrially excellent effects such that when electric power having a large output fluctuation, such as renewable energy, is used as a power source, electrolysis performance is unlikely to be deteriorated and excellent catalytic activity is retained stably over a longer period of time, and in addition, the present invention provides a technique that enables forming a catalyst layer of an oxygen generation anode, which gives such excellent effects, with a more versatile materials and by a simple electrolysis method. Provided are an alkaline water electrolysis method including supplying an electrolyte obtained by dispersing a catalyst containing a hybrid nickel-iron hydroxide nanosheet (NiFe-ns) being a composite of a metal hydroxide and an organic substance to an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and using the electrolyte for electrolysis in each chamber in common, an alkaline water electrolysis method including supplying an electrolyte obtained by dispersing a catalyst containing the NiFe-ns to an anode chamber and a cathode chamber, and performing electrolytic deposition of the NiFe-ns in the electrolytic cell during operation to electrolytically deposit the NiFe-ns on a surface of an electrically conductive substrate having a catalyst layer formed on a surface of an oxygen generation anode, thereby recovering and improving electrolysis performance, and an alkaline water electrolysis anode.

Methods and catalysts for oxidizing ammonia to nitrogen are described. Specifically, diruthenium complexes that spontaneously catalyze this reaction are disclosed. Accordingly, the disclosed methods and catalysts can be used in various electrochemical cell-based energy storage and energy production applications that could form the basis for a potential nitrogen economy.

Methods and catalysts for oxidizing ammonia to nitrogen are described. Specifically, diruthenium complexes that spontaneously catalyze this reaction are disclosed. Accordingly, the disclosed methods and catalysts can be used in various electrochemical cell-based energy storage and energy production applications that could form the basis for a potential nitrogen economy.

A light-driven fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and a proton-permeable membrane between the anode and the cathode. The anode includes a photocatalyst for anaerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the anode is supplied with methane and water and is irradiated with light, methanol, protons and electrons are generated by anaerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the water supplied to the anode; the protons pass through the proton-permeable membrane and move to the cathode; and the electrons move to the cathode via an external circuit. The cathode includes a photocatalyst for aerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the cathode is supplied with methane and oxygen and is irradiated with light, methanol and water are generated by aerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the oxygen supplied to the cathode and the protons and the electrons moved from the anode.

A light-driven fuel cell includes a cathode, an anode, and a proton-permeable membrane between the anode and the cathode. The anode includes a photocatalyst for anaerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the anode is supplied with methane and water and is irradiated with light, methanol, protons and electrons are generated by anaerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the water supplied to the anode; the protons pass through the proton-permeable membrane and move to the cathode; and the electrons move to the cathode via an external circuit. The cathode includes a photocatalyst for aerobic methane oxidation reaction, and when the cathode is supplied with methane and oxygen and is irradiated with light, methanol and water are generated by aerobic methane oxidation reaction from the methane and the oxygen supplied to the cathode and the protons and the electrons moved from the anode.

Disclosed are cathodes comprising a conductive support substrate having an electrocatalyst coating containing nickel hosphide nanoparticles and a co-catalyst. The conductive support substrate is capable of incorporating a material to be reduced, such as CO.sub.2 or CO. A cocatalyst, either incorporated into the electrolyte solution, or into the conductive support, or adsorbed to, deposited on, or incorporated into the bulk cathode material, alters the electrocatalyst properties by increasing the carbon product selectivity through interactions with the reaction intermediates. Also disclosed are electrochemical methods for selectively generating hydrocarbon and/or carbohydrate products from CO.sub.2 or CO using water as a source of hydrogen