Feasibility of hydrogen production from coal electrolysis at intermediate temperatures

Hydrogen production via coal electrolysis was evaluated at intermediate temperatures (40–108 °C). A coal electrolytic cell (CEC) was designed and constructed to carry out galvanostatic experiments with concentrated electrolyte (4 M H2SO4). Operating temperatures above 100 °C were found to significantly improve the kinetics of electro-oxidation of coal, coal conversion, and CO2/coal Faradaic efficiency. CO2/coal Faradaic efficiencies and coal conversions of up to 57.29 and 3.21%, respectively, were observed at 108 °C.