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Updated: Jun 14, 2025

Hydrogen Production and Utilization in a Membrane Reactor
Published on: March 10, 2023
In situ electrosynthesis of quinone-based redox-active molecules coupling with high-purity hydrogen production
Hyunjoon Ji1,2, Ziming Zhao1, Changkun Zhang1
1Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences Zhongshan Road 457 Dalian 116023 P. R. China zhangchk17@dicp.ac.cn lixianfeng@dicp.ac.cn.
Abstract:
Clean hydrogen production via conventional water splitting involves sluggish anodic oxygen evolution, which can be replaced with more valuable electrosynthesis reactions. Here, we propose one novel strategy for coupling in situ organic electrosynthesis with high-purity hydrogen production. A benzoquinone-derivative disodium 4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzenedisulfonate (Tiron)-o1 and a naphthoquinone-derivative 2,6,8-trismethylaminemethylene-3,5-dihydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (TANQ) were in situ electrosynthesized and directly used in a flow battery without any further purification treatment. Constant, simultaneous production of TANQ and hydrogen was demonstrated for 61 hours, while stable charge-discharge capacities were retained for 1000 cycles. The work provided a new avenue for achieving in situ redox-active molecule synthesis and high-purity hydrogen.
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