Water electrolysis splits H₂O into hydrogen and oxygen gases, creating clean fuel for fuel cells and other devices. When powered by renewable energy, it's a sustainable method for producing hydrogen. The process occurs at two electrodes: water is oxidized to oxygen at the anode, and hydrogen ions are reduced to hydrogen gas at the cathode.
While water electrolysis is an important reaction to generate hydrogen and oxygen gases, the inverse reaction is essential for the generation of electricity to power fuel cells. Both reactions require catalysts to ensure reactions occur quickly, efficiently and with minimal energetic input.
