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Ten-percent solar-to-fuel conversion with nonprecious materials.

ABSTRACT: Direct solar-to-fuels conversion can be achieved by coupling a photovoltaic device with water-splitting catalysts. We demonstrate that a solar-to-fuels efficiency (SFE) > 10% can be achieved with nonprecious, low-cost, and commercially ready materials. We present a systems design of a modular photovoltaic (PV)-electrochemical device comprising a crystalline silicon PV minimodule and low-cost hydrogen-evolution reaction and oxygen-evolution reaction catalysts, without power electronics. This approach allows for facile optimization en route to addressing lower-cost devices relying on crystalline silicon at high SFEs for direct solar-to-fuels conversion.

SUBMITTER: Cox CR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4191778 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Ten-percent solar-to-fuel conversion with nonprecious materials.

Cox Casandra R CR Lee Jungwoo Z JZ Nocera Daniel G DG Buonassisi Tonio T

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 20140915 39

Direct solar-to-fuels conversion can be achieved by coupling a photovoltaic device with water-splitting catalysts. We demonstrate that a solar-to-fuels efficiency (SFE) > 10% can be achieved with nonprecious, low-cost, and commercially ready materials. We present a systems design of a modular photovoltaic (PV)-electrochemical device comprising a crystalline silicon PV minimodule and low-cost hydrogen-evolution reaction and oxygen-evolution reaction catalysts, without power electronics. This appr ...[more]

PMID: 25225379

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