A practical photoelectrochemical cell using non precious metal electrodes

Abstract

In this study a Photoelectrochemical Cell (PEC) constructed with inexpensive materials photodegraded selected organic compounds present in model waste waters, with the concomitant production of electrical current. Organic substrates dissolved in salt water included formic acid, 2-propanol, 1,2-dihydroxybenzene and ascorbic acid. Significant degradation of ascorbic acid was achieved when the cell was illuminated with a household 60 W tungsten light bulb, although better results were achieved with UV sources. Degradation of all the compounds was found to occur by zero order kinetics, and the PEC was shown not to work appreciably in dark conditions. Using a conventional light bulb, a formic acid PEC produced a power density of 19.1 ± 2 mW m -2 . When exposed to natural daylight, a power density of 31.5 ± 2 mW m -2 was achieved. There is considerable scope for scale up of this device for exterior use.

Photosensitized Radical-Anion-Driven Metal-Free Selective Reduction of Aldehydes Using Graphene Oxide as an Electron Relay Mediator under Visible Light

“…30,52 Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curve of EY demonstrates the characteristic peak at −1.01 V with a low current density in the dark (Figure 5a) (Supporting Information, Table S2). The photocurrent density and the intensity of the reduction peak were increased (Figure 5a) in the light, which may occur due to the better electron transfer process in illumination 53 from EY excited species. When adding AO to the EY system in light, a very weak reduction peak at 1.01 V was detected (Figure 5b).…”