Single Bubble Dynamics During Water Electrolysis

Understanding single bubble dynamics in water electrolysis is critical to enhancing hydrogen production efficiency. Insights into nucleation, growth, and detachment mechanisms can optimize electrolysis technology for sustainable energy.

Motivation

Hydrogen production via electrolysis is a key component of renewable energy systems. However, bubble-induced resistance reduces efficiency, necessitating detailed studies to minimize energy losses.

Goals

• Analyze bubble nucleation, growth, and detachment processes
• Investigate the role of temperature and Marangoni convection in bubble dynamics.
• Optimize electrode designs to improve hydrogen yield.

Techniques

Experimental approaches included high-speed shadowgraphy, micro-Particle Tracking Velocimetry (µPTV), and in-situ Schlieren imaging to map thermal and velocity fields around bubbles.

Results

Key findings include the identification of Marangoni convection driven by temperature gradients, which influences bubble behavior and detachment. The study revealed that proper thermal control significantly improves electrolysis efficiency​

Publications

1.Hossain, S.S. et al. The thermocapillary effect on gas bubbles growing on electrodes of different sizes, Electrochimica Acta 353(2020), 136461, 2020
2.Bashkatov, A. et al. Oscillating Hydrogen Bubbles at Pt Microelectrodes. Phys. Rev. Lett., 123(21), p. 214503, 2019
3.Massing, J. et al. Thermocapillary convection during hydrogen evolution at microelectrodes. Electrochimica Acta, 297, pp.929-940, 2019.
4.Yang, X. et al. Marangoni convection at electrogenerated hydrogen bubbles. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 20(17), pp.11542-11548, 2018
5.Bashkatov, A. et al. Dynamics of single hydrogen bubbles at Pt microelectrodes in microgravity, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 23(20) 11818-11830, 2021
6.Hossain, S. et al. Force balance of hydrogen bubbles growing and oscillating on a microelectrode, Physical Review E 106(3) 035105, 2022
7.Bashkatov, A. et al. On the growth regimes of hydrogen bubbles at microelectrodes, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 24(43) 26738-26752, 2022
8.Ömer Akay et. al. Electrolysis in reduced gravitational environments: current research perspectives and future applications, npj Microgravity 8:56 (2022)
9.Bashkatov, A. et al. H2 bubble motion reversals during water electrolysis, JFM, T. 958. – C. A43. 2024
10.Babich. A. et al. In-situ measurements of temperature field and Marangoni convection at hydrogen bubbles using schlieren and PTV techniques, International Journal of Heat and MassTransfer, T. 215. – C. 124466. 2024