The authors report on carbon-assisted water electrolysis at 300K which only consumes 9.6kcal∕mol H2O (compared to 56.7kcal∕mol H2O for ordinary electrolysis) using the net reaction C(s)+2H2O(ℓ)→CO2(g)+2H2(g). Carbon-assisted H2 production and its kinetics/energetics are measured at applied potential ∣E0∣ between 0.1 and 1.8V (compared to ∣E0∣ >1.25V required for water electrolysis). Surprisingly, H2 produced per W h is higher at the lower voltages, but longer times are required to produce the same amount of H2 The suggested practical conditions are ∣E0∣≃0.5V and carbon concentration of 0.08g∕cm3.

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The objective of the work was to conduct water electrolysis at room temperature with reduced energy costs for hydrogen production. The electrochemical gasification of carbons consumes only 9.6 kcal/mol H 2 O compared to 56.7 kcal/molH 2 O for conventional water electrolysis. In this work, carbon-assisted hydrogen production and the reaction energetics/kinetics at applied potentials |E 0 | between 0.1 and 1.8 V are studied. The carbon promoted water electrolysis could be performed at applied potentials as low as |E 0 |=0.21 V as opposed to conventional water electrolysis which requires |E 0 |>1.25 V. The study reveals that the H 2 produced per W h is higher at the lower voltages, but longer times are required to produce the same amount of H 2 .The following parameters were considered for evaluating the process: time taken, potential applied, current required and amount of carbon to be added. Based on such an evaluation, practical parameters of |E 0 | ~ 0.5 V and carbon concentration (0.08 g/cm 3) are suggested.