Device and System Having Water Microelectrolyzer Cells and Method of Using the Same

Abstract

A device having a water vapor microelectrolyzer cell including microstructured parallel electrodes where the water splitting reactions can take place, the microstructured electrodes being covered by a thin layer of solid-state ion conducting material to allow for the conduction of protons during the device operation, while permitting the diffusion of water from the vapor phase into the electrodes, as well as the diffusion of evolved oxygen and hydrogen gases from the electrodes into the vapor phase environment above the ion-conductor film.

1 . A system for water electrolysis from water vapor streams, the system comprising:
 a microstructured array of electrodes for water splitting reaction.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 independent microstructured channels for collecting evolved hydrogen and oxygen from the microstructures array of electrodes.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a thin layer of solid-state conductor located on top of the microstructured array of electrodes to provide pathways for ionic conduction, water absorption from vapor phase, and hydrogen and oxygen diffusion.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  where the microstructured array of electrodes include photovoltaic components so that a potential necessary for water electrolysis is at least partly provided by the photovoltaic components upon light irradiation. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the microstructured array of electrodes is operated by an external electrical bias from an electrical power source. 
     
     
         6 . A method for water electrolysis from water vapor streams, comprising the steps of:
 providing a vapor streams flow through channels that are placed over a microstructured array of electrodes; and   performing a water splitting reaction with the microstructured array of electrodes.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising the step of:
 collecting evolved hydrogen and oxygen by a separate microstructured channel for each electrode of the microstructured array of electrodes.