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INT-BILAT-BILAT-ordningen

Japan - Electrolysis for sustainable development - New techn. for molten salts and for restoration of Lake Biwa in collaboration with Japan

Awarded: NOK 0.15 mill.

The main purpose of the project is to establish collaboration between research groups in Japan and NTNU. Contact between scientists at NTNU and Doshisha University and Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan has been made through the KIFEE activities; a symposiu m in 2004 and a workshop in 2005. We have discussed research problems of common interest related to developing new technologies for electrolysis with emphasis on energy and environmental issues. 1. Electrolysis in aqueous solutions - new anodes for indus try and for restoration of Lake Biwa. The kinetics for evolution of chlorine and oxygen depend on the anode material. Testing of new catalytic substrate materials can help in developing new anodes which may result in gains with respect to increased lifet ime and reduced energy consumption. A specific research project is related to restoration of Lake Biwa, which is the largest and oldest lake in Japan. Pollution has caused eutrophication leading to the extinction of plants and fishes due to lack of oxygen . An ambitious research program has been proposed to clean up the lake by supplying dissolved oxygen by in-situ electrolysis. Through the KIFEE contacts NTNU has been asked to participate in this project. The electricity will be provided by solar cells fl oating on the lake. Also the hydrogen evolved at the cathode will be collected for energy purposes. 2. Electrolysis in molten salts - production of carbon nanotubes and handling of CO2. The research groups in Kyoto have received world wide recognition f or their contributions to developing new concepts for processes in molten salt electrolytes. In this field there are many possible research topics for collaboration. One area is related to the elctrodeposition of carbon from molten salts by using CO2 as t he raw material. Of particular interest is the possibility to produce carbon nanostructures directly by electrolysis.

Funding scheme:

INT-BILAT-BILAT-ordningen

Thematic Areas and Topics

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