Chemical approaches to artificial photosynthesis

Concepcion, Javier J.; House, Ralph L.; Papanikolas, John M.; Meyer, Thomas J.

doi:10.1073/pnas.1212254109

Cited by 373 publications

(328 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…For more than three decades, researchers have been ambitiously attempting to mimic what Mother Nature does and pursuing artificial photosynthesis that aims at the spontaneous transformation of atmospheric CO 2 and water to chemical fuels using sunlight as the sole energy input 8, 9. Although still at very low efficiency currently, artificial photosynthesis is believed to have the great potential to make a substantial contribution to our future energy supply.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CO₂ Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach

et al. 2017

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Increasing CO2 concentration in the atmosphere is believed to have a profound impact on the global climate. To reverse the impact would necessitate not only curbing the reliance on fossil fuels but also developing effective strategies capture and utilize CO2 from the atmosphere. Among several available strategies, CO2 reduction via the electrochemical or photochemical approach is particularly attractive since the required energy input can be potentially supplied from renewable sources such as solar energy. In this Review, an overview on these two different but inherently connected approaches is provided and recent progress on the development, engineering, and understanding of CO2 reduction electrocatalysts and photocatalysts is summarized. First, the basic principles that govern electrocatalytic or photocatalytic CO2 reduction and their important performance metrics are discussed. Then, a detailed discussion on different CO2 reduction electrocatalysts and photocatalysts as well as their generally designing strategies is provided. At the end of this Review, perspectives on the opportunities and possible directions for future development of this field are presented.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

CO₂ Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach

et al. 2017

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“…However, natural photosynthesis observed in plants has very low efficiencies (typically ~1%) for biomass production and this has stimulated great interest in creating an artificial counterpart with higher efficiency [31]. Artificial photosynthesis could be used to convert and store solar energy as carbohydrates or alternatively as hydrogen.…”

Section: Artificial Photosynthesismentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Rare Metal Availability Challenges for Solar Energy Technologies

Grandell

Höök

2015

Sustainability

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Solar energy is commonly seen as a future energy source with significant potential. Ruthenium, gallium, indium and several other rare elements are common and vital components of many solar energy technologies, including dye-sensitized solar cells, CIGS cells and various artificial photosynthesis approaches. This study surveys solar energy technologies and their reliance on rare metals such as indium, gallium, and ruthenium. Several of these rare materials do not occur as primary ores, and are found as byproducts associated with primary base metal ores. This will have an impact on future production trends and the availability for various applications. In addition, the geological reserves of many vital metals are scarce and severely limit the potential of certain solar energy technologies. It is the conclusion of this study that certain solar energy concepts are unrealistic in terms of achieving TW scales.

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“…1, or reduction of carbon dioxide to a carbon-based fuel, Eq. 2 (3,4). Different strategies for solar fuels have evolved (5,6).…”

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confidence: 99%

Solar water splitting in a molecular photoelectrochemical cell

Alibabaei

Brennaman

Norris

et al. 2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Artificial photosynthesis and the production of solar fuels could be a key element in a future renewable energy economy providing a solution to the energy storage problem in solar energy conversion. We describe a hybrid strategy for solar water splitting based on a dye sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cell. It uses a derivatized, core-shell nanostructured photoanode with the core a high surface area conductive metal oxide film--indium tin oxide or antimony tin oxide--coated with a thin outer shell of TiO 2 formed by atomic layer deposition. A "chromophore-catalyst assembly" 1, [(PO 3 H 2 ) 2 bpy) 2 Ru(4-Mebpy-4-bimpy)Rub(tpy)(OH 2 )] 4+ , which combines both light absorber and water oxidation catalyst in a single molecule, was attached to the TiO 2 shell. Visible photolysis of the resulting core-shell assembly structure with a Pt cathode resulted in water splitting into hydrogen and oxygen with an absorbed photon conversion efficiency of 4.4% at peak photocurrent.P hotosynthesis uses the energy of the sun with water as the reducing agent to drive the reduction of carbon dioxide to carbohydrates with oxygen as a coproduct through a remarkably complex process. At photosystem II, a subsystem imbedded in the thylakoid membrane where O 2 is produced, light absorption, energy migration, electron transfer, proton transfer, and catalysis are all used in multiple stepwise chemical reactions which are carefully orchestrated at the molecular level (1, 2).Photosynthesis solves the problem of energy storage by biomass production but with low solar efficiencies, typically <1%. In artificial photosynthesis with solar fuels production, the goal is similar but the targets are either hydrogen production from water splitting, Eq. 1, or reduction of carbon dioxide to a carbon-based fuel, Eq. 2 (3, 4). Different strategies for solar fuels have evolved (5, 6). In one, direct bandgap excitation of semiconductors creates electron-hole pairs which are then used to drive separate halfreactions for water oxidation (2H 2 O → O 2 + 4H + + 4e − ) and water/proton reduction (2H + + 2e − → H 2 ) (7-9).Here, we report a hybrid strategy for solar water splitting, the dye sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cell (DSPEC). It combines the electron transport properties of semiconductor nanocrystalline thin films with molecular-level reactions (10). In this approach, a chromophore-catalyst molecular assembly acts as both light absorber and catalyst. It is bound to the surface of a "core-shell," nanostructured, transparent conducting oxide film. The core structure consists of a nanoparticle film of either tin-doped indium oxide (nanoITO), or antimony-doped tin oxide (nanoATO), deposited on a fluoride-doped tin oxide (FTO) glass substrate. The shell consists of a conformal TiO 2 nanolayer applied by atomic layer deposition (ALD). The resulting "photoanode," where water oxidation occurs, is connected to a Pt cathode for proton reduction to complete the water splitting cell. A diagram for the photoanode in the DSPEC device is shown in Fig. 1. It illustrates...

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Chemical approaches to artificial photosynthesis

Abstract: photoelectrochemical cell | photosytem II | water splitting | solar fuels | artificial photosynthesis

Cited by 373 publications

References 67 publications

CO₂ Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach

CO₂ Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach

Assessing Rare Metal Availability Challenges for Solar Energy Technologies

Solar water splitting in a molecular photoelectrochemical cell

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Chemical approaches to artificial photosynthesis

Abstract: photoelectrochemical cell | photosytem II | water splitting | solar fuels | artificial photosynthesis

Cited by 373 publications

References 67 publications

CO2 Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach

CO2 Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach

Assessing Rare Metal Availability Challenges for Solar Energy Technologies

Solar water splitting in a molecular photoelectrochemical cell

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Product

Resources

About

CO₂ Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach

CO₂ Reduction: From the Electrochemical to Photochemical Approach