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Dong WJ, Ye Z, Tang S, Navid IA, Xiao Y, Zhang B, Pan Y, Mi Z. Concentrated Solar Light Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting for Stable and High-Yield Hydrogen Production. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309548. [PMID: 38460173 PMCID: PMC11234434 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising technique for converting solar energy into low-cost and eco-friendly H2 fuel. However, the production rate of H2 is limited by the insufficient number of photogenerated charge carriers in the conventional photoelectrodes under 1 sun (100 mW cm-2) light. Concentrated solar light irradiation can overcome the issue of low yield, but it leads to a new challenge of stability because the accelerated reaction alters the surface chemical composition of photoelectrodes. Here, it is demonstrated that loading Pt nanoparticles (NPs) on single crystalline GaN nanowires (NWs) grown on n+-p Si photoelectrode operates efficiently and stably under concentrated solar light. Although a large number of Pt NPs detach during the initial reaction due to H2 gas bubbling, some Pt NPs which have an epitaxial relation with GaN NWs remain stably anchored. In addition, the stability of the photoelectrode further improves by redepositing Pt NPs on the reacted Pt/GaN surface, which results in maintaining onset potential >0.5 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and photocurrent density >60 mA cm-2 for over 1500 h. The heterointerface between Pt cocatalysts and single crystalline GaN nanostructures shows great potential in designing an efficient and stable photoelectrode for high-yield solar to H2 conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan Jae Dong
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Zhengwei Ye
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Songtao Tang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Ishtiaque Ahmed Navid
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Yixin Xiao
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Bingxing Zhang
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Yuyang Pan
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
| | - Zetian Mi
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer ScienceUniversity of Michigan1301 Beal AvenueAnn ArborMI48109USA
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Jain R, Panwar NL, Chitranjan Agarwal, Guta T. A comprehensive review on unleashing the power of hydrogen: revolutionizing energy systems for a sustainable future. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33541-1. [PMID: 38703313 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33541-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Population growth and environmental degradation are major concerns for sustainable development worldwide. Hydrogen is a clean and eco-friendly alternative to fossil fuels, with a heating value almost three times higher than other fossil fuels. It also has a clean production process, which helps to reduce the emission of hazardous pollutants and save the environment. Among the various production methodologies described in this review, biochemical production of hydrogen is considered more suitable as it uses waste organic matter instead of fossil fuels. This technology not only produces clean energy but also helps to manage waste more efficiently. However, the production of hydrogen obtained from this method is currently more expensive due to its early stage of development. Nevertheless, various research projects are underway to develop this method on a commercial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupal Jain
- Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India
| | - Narayan Lal Panwar
- Department of Renewable Energy Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India.
| | - Chitranjan Agarwal
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India
| | - Trilok Guta
- Department of Civil Engineering, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 313001, India
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Vilanova A, Dias P, Lopes T, Mendes A. The route for commercial photoelectrochemical water splitting: a review of large-area devices and key upscaling challenges. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:2388-2434. [PMID: 38288870 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs01069g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Green-hydrogen is considered a "key player" in the energy market for the upcoming decades. Among currently available hydrogen (H2) production processes, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting has one of the lowest environmental impacts. However, it still presents prohibitively high production costs compared to more mature technologies, such as steam methane reforming. Therefore, the competitiveness of PEC water splitting must rely on its environmental and functional advantages, which are strongly linked to the reactor design, to the intrinsic properties of its components, and to their successful upscaling. This review gives special attention to the engineering aspects and categorizes PEC devices into four main types, according to the configuration of electrodes and strategies for gas separation: wired back-to-back, wireless back-to-back, wired side-by-side, and wired separated electrode membrane-free. Independently of the device architecture, the use of concentrated sunlight was found to be mandatory for achieving competitive green-H2 production. Additionally, feasible strategies for upscaling the key components of PEC devices, especially photoelectrodes, are urgently needed. In a pragmatic context, the way to move forward is to accept that PEC devices will operate close to their thermodynamic limits at large-scale, which requires a solid convergence between academics and industry. Research efforts must be redirected to: (i) build and demonstrate modular devices with a low-cost and highly recyclable embodiment; (ii) optimize thermal and power management; (iii) reduce ohmic losses; (iv) enhance the chemical stability towards a thousand hours; (v) couple solar concentrators with PEC devices; (vi) boost PEC-H2 production through the use of organic compounds; and (vii) reach consensual standardized methods for evaluating PEC devices, at both environmental and techno-economic levels. If these targets are not met in the next few years, the feasibility of PEC-H2 production and its acceptance by industry and by the general public will be seriously compromised.
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Affiliation(s)
- António Vilanova
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory, Avenida Mestre José Veiga, 4715-330, Braga, Portugal
| | - Paula Dias
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Tânia Lopes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Adélio Mendes
- LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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Aggarwal K, Bsoul S, Douglin JC, Li S, Dekel DR, Diesendruck C. Alkaline Stability of Low Oxophilicity Metallopolymer Anion-Exchange Membranes. Chemistry 2021; 28:e202103744. [PMID: 34878688 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202103744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Anion-exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) are promising energy conversion devices due to their high efficiency and relatively low cost. Nonetheless, AEMFC operation time is currently limited by the low chemical stability of their polymeric anion-exchange membranes. In recent years, metallopolymers, where the metal centers assume the ion transport function, have been proposed as a chemically stable alternative. Here we present a systematic study using a polymer backbone with side-chain N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands complexed to various metals with low oxophilicity, such as copper, zinc, nickel, and gold. The golden metallopolymer, using the metal with the lowest oxophilicity, demonstrates exceptional alkaline stability, far superior to state-of-the-art quaternary ammonium cations, as well as good in-situ AEMFC results. These results demonstrate that judiciously designed metallopolymers may be superior to purely organic membranes and provides a scientific base for further developments in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saja Bsoul
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering, ISRAEL
| | - John C Douglin
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering, ISRAEL
| | - Songlin Li
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering, ISRAEL
| | - Dario R Dekel
- Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Chemical Engineering, ISRAEL
| | - Charles Diesendruck
- Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Kiryat Hatechnion, 3200008, Haifa, ISRAEL
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