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Project

"Z-scheme" Photoelectrochemical Cell Converting CO2 and Sunlight into Fuels

Due to the fast development of human society, the CO2 emission caused by fossil fuels consumption is ever-increasing leading to adverse global climate change. This calls for the urgent development of renewable and clean energy. Solar energy is widely regarded as a clean and infinite energy source. The photoelectrochemical reduction of CO2 into fuels using intermittent solar energy has been considered a promising way to maintain the sustainable development of human. However, the low selectivity and efficiency of current solutions challenge the potential of this sustainable solar energy-conversion process. Furthermore, most of the reported CO2 photoelectrocatalytic reduction systems still require an external bias to drive the CO2 reduction due to the small photovoltage. Therefore, this project will focus on the design and fabrication of Z-scheme photoanode-driven photoelectrochemical systems with large photovoltage for the efficient and selective CO2 reduction into syngas. I will first develop several Z-scheme photoanodes based on metal halide perovskite to fully capture the solar radiation and generate a large photovoltage and maximize the current. Then, a series of physical chemistry studies will be employed to reveal band structures, photocarrier dynamics and demonstrate Z-scheme mechanisms. Finally, Ag/Au electrocatalytic cathodes will be assembled these photoanodes to prepare photoelectrochemical cell for CO2 reduction to syngas with solar energy as the only energy input.

Date:1 Oct 2021 →  Today
Keywords:Z-scheme heterojunction, CO2 reduction, photoelectrochemistry
Disciplines:Electronic (transport) properties, Semiconductors and semimetals, Electrochemistry, Surface and interface chemistry, Solar energy