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Possibly scalable solar hydrogen generation with quasi-artificial leaf approach.

ABSTRACT: Any solar energy harvesting technology must provide a net positive energy balance, and artificial leaf concept provided a platform for solar water splitting (SWS) towards that. However, device stability, high photocurrent generation, and scalability are the major challenges. A wireless device based on quasi-artificial leaf concept (QuAL), comprising Au on porous TiO₂ electrode sensitized by PbS and CdS quantum dots (QD), was demonstrated to show sustainable solar hydrogen (490?±?25?µmol/h (corresponds to 12?ml H₂ h^-1) from ~2?mg of photoanode material coated over 1?cm² area with aqueous hole (S^2-/SO₃^2-) scavenger. A linear extrapolation of the above results could lead to hydrogen production of 6?L/h.g over an area of ~23?×?23?cm². Under one sun conditions, 4.3?mA/cm² photocurrent generation, 5.6% power conversion efficiency, and spontaneous H₂ generation were observed at no applied potential (see S1). A direct coupling of all components within themselves enhances the light absorption in the entire visible and NIR region and charge utilization. Thin film approach, as in DSSC, combined with porous titania enables networking of all the components of the device, and efficiently converts solar to chemical energy in a sustainable manner.

SUBMITTER: Patra KK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5529526 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Possibly scalable solar hydrogen generation with quasi-artificial leaf approach.

Patra Kshirodra Kumar KK Bhuskute Bela D BD Gopinath Chinnakonda S CS

Scientific reports 20170726 1

Any solar energy harvesting technology must provide a net positive energy balance, and artificial leaf concept provided a platform for solar water splitting (SWS) towards that. However, device stability, high photocurrent generation, and scalability are the major challenges. A wireless device based on quasi-artificial leaf concept (QuAL), comprising Au on porous TiO<sub>2</sub> electrode sensitized by PbS and CdS quantum dots (QD), was demonstrated to show sustainable solar hydrogen (490 ± 25 µm ...[more]

PMID: 28747732

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Project description:Achieving global sustainability will require balancing encroaching climate changes while maintaining existing quality of life. Using sunlight to purify wastewater while simultaneously generating usable fuels is an opportunity to approach both targets in a cost-efficient manner. In addition, converting biomass products to usable polymers is a sustainable approach for potentially replacing polystyrene or other petroleum derived polymers. Phenols from medical, manufacturing, and agricultural waste are commonly found in many water sources, and they are known to foul common reverse osmosis membranes. Here, we show oxidative polymerization of guaiacol, an aromatic compound derived from biomass, with concurrent hydrogen gas generation by using platinum-seeded cadmium sulfide nanorods (Pt@CdS) as photocatalysts. Rather than forming short oligomers as typically made by enzymes such as laccase and peroxidase, the resulting polymers show higher molecular weights that can more easily flocculate out of water. By comparing guaiacol conversion to molecular weight and dispersity, the guaiacol was found to polymerize via a chain-growth process. We also show that Pt@CdS can polymerize other phenols as well by testing the monomers phenol, 2,6-dihydroxybenzoic acid, gallic acid, and vanillin. Lastly, because the aqueous solubility of these aromatic polymers decreases dramatically with molecular weight, polymerization reactions were also tested in biphasic solutions to determine if chain growth could propagate in the oil phase. We show that the Pt@CdS nanoparticles can form stable Pickering emulsions in various biphasic combinations, and that both H2 formation and polymer molecular weight correlated with the partition coefficient of guaiacol into the oil phase as well as the solubility of the growing polymer chains. These combined studies demonstrate the possibility of using nanoscale photocatalysts to oxidatively polymerize phenolic substrates via a chain-growth mechanism, thereby providing a path for pretreating water by flocculating out contaminants with concurrent generation of hydrogen.

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Possibly scalable solar hydrogen generation with quasi-artificial leaf approach.

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Possibly scalable solar hydrogen generation with quasi-artificial leaf approach.

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