Jack Corbin

About:

Jack is a PhD student working as part of the Energy Storage group at the University of Exeter with a focus on developing hydrogen generation from seawater for green hydrogen production within an AEM electrolyser.

Direct seawater electrolysis (DSWE) offers the opportunity for green hydrogen production on a large scale while benefitting from reduced capital costs and a simplified one-step approach by removing the need for desalination or pre-treatment systems and reducing freshwater scarcity. Significant research is being directed to this DSWE as seawater demonstrates high electrical conductivity (due to its composition being rich in a variety of ions), with a relatively neutral pH that helps to reduce chloride oxidation and worldwide abundance (seawater accounts for 75% of the earth and 97% of surface water). Due to the novelty of the research area, there is a need to overcome some challenges, most of which occur at the anode during the reaction, relating to high volumes of negatively charged chloride anions present, which corrode catalysts and substrates due to metal chloride hydroxide formation.

Currently, Corbin is working on the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and designing electrocatalysts that can withstand the harsh environment that DSWE presents, minimising chloride corrosion and unwanted side reactions. Modified Nickel materials have proven to show good stability and activity in seawater as the OER electrocatalyst as well as demonstrating a high level of chlorine corrosion resistance. The current analysis is focusing on the corrosion of bare metals to better understand corrosion characteristics, thus mitigating them when applying modifications to the electrode surface.

Qualifications:

• BSc Renewable Energy, University of Exeter (Graduated 2021)

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