Efficient solar fuel fuel cells for water splitting
- Reference number
- UKR22-0001
- Project leader
- Shylin, Sergii
- Start and end dates
- 220501-241231
- Amount granted
- 2 000 000 SEK
- Administrative organization
- Uppsala University
- Research area
- Materials Science and Technology
Summary
Water oxidation powered by sunlight is the main bottleneck for direct conversion of solar energy into chemical fuels through photochemical water splitting. The main purpose of this proposal is to develop photoelectrochemical cells using stable and efficient molecular water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) based on abundant, recyclable and environmentally benign materials. We propose a new type of polyhydrazide complexes of iron, manganese and copper obtained via metal template synthesis as WOCs, which hold the promise to compete with noble metal-based catalysts. The proposed polyhydrazide ligands are extremely robust and can stabilize high oxidation states of the encapsulated metals that is expected to be the key to high activity and long life of the system. The working plan includes: 1. Synthesis of the WOCs; 2. Investigation of the WOCs in photochemical and electrochemical water oxidation, including mechanistic studies; 3. Development of dye-sensitized photoanodes for photoelectrochemical cells using selected WOCs. Specifically, the WOC and Ru-based photosensitizer will be immobilized on core/shell nanoparticles SnO2/TiO2 deposited on FTO substrates. Their activity will be studied under illumination with an applied bias. Transient absorption spectroscopy experiments will be carried out to monitor the electron transfer kinetics. The hybrid photoanodes will be used to design prototypes of solar fuel cells.
Popular science description
Climate change, driven by the increasing consumption of fossil fuels, has become the greatest challenge humanity has ever faced. In this regards, photocatalytic water splitting, where sunlight is used as an infinite source of energy and water as an abundant source of electrons, has become one avenue to reach the sustainable society goals. Indeed, solar cells (or solar panels) can already convert solar energy into electricity. However, the sunlight is by its nature fluctuating and unevenly distributed over the earth's surface. Thus, methods are needed to store solar energy in the form of a dense fuel (for example, liquid hydrogen, gasoline, alcohol, etc.) in the course of so-called Artificial Photosynthesis. The development of water splitting catalysts is a major challenge, and the lack of stable catalysts that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen is a significant bottleneck on the road to efficient Artificial Photosynthesis. A significant part of research on Artificial Photosynthesis focuses on systems based on precious metals, like iridium and ruthenium. The aim of our project is to design molecular catalysts for photochemical water splitting, based on cheap and environmentally friendly materials (iron, manganese and copper). But what really makes the project unique both at the national and international levels is the new type of ligands we intend to explore. This ligand family is extremely robust and can stabilize high oxidation states of the metals, which is expected to be the key to high activity and long life of the system. To the best of our knowledge, this type of material has not been investigated so far. After the development of new molecular catalysts, we will design the prototypes of photoelectrochemical cells (or solar fuel cells) for hydrogen production based on these catalysts. This study will be done at the Uppsala University, which is part of the Swedish Consortium for Artificial Photosynthesis. The consortium is a collaborative research environment with the purpose of advancing science and utilization of solar fuels – fuel from solar energy. The consortium brings together leading scientists with expertise in molecular biology, biophysics and biochemistry, synthetic chemistry and chemical physics, which do fundamental and applied research, developing solutions for a sustainable future.