Project Overview

Hydrogen is an important non-carbon-based fuel and industrial feedstock. There are ~20 ways to produce H2. Methane (CH4) is a key source of H2 because of its high hydrogen to carbon ratio, 4:1. Steam reforming is the most common process, while pyrolysis is an emerging technology to do this conversion. Reforming suffers from producing and usually emits carbon dioxide (CO2), while pyrolysis contends with high sensible energy inputs and material issues at high temperatures. This project is a comparative study between gas-phase pyrolysis, gas-liquid-alloy pyrolysis, hybrid cold-plasma / photo-catalytic and electron radiolysis in the production of hydrogen from methane. The hybrid cold-plasma/photo-catalytic technology offers a promising alternative to steam-methane reforming. Further research is needed on this hybrid technology to optimize the process and develop cost-effective and scalable systems for commercial use. This research will explore ways to improve the energy efficiency, alternative energy sources, photocatalyst development, and photo-plasma coupling.