Low-cost high-efficiency system for solar-driven conversion of CO ₂ to hydrocarbons

Abstract

Conversion of carbon dioxide into hydrocarbons using solar energy is an attractive strategy for storing such a renewable source of energy into the form of chemical energy (a fuel). This can be achieved in a system coupling a photovoltaic (PV) cell to an electrochemical cell (EC) for CO2 reduction. To be beneficial and applicable, such a system should use low-cost and easily processable photovoltaic cells and display minimal energy losses associated with the catalysts at the anode and cathode and with the electrolyzer device. In this work, we have considered all of these parameters altogether to set up a reference PV–EC system for CO2 reduction to hydrocarbons. By using the same original and efficient Cu-based catalysts at both electrodes of the electrolyzer, and by minimizing all possible energy losses associated with the electrolyzer device, we have achieved CO2 reduction to ethylene and ethane with a 21% energy efficiency. Coupled with a state-of-the-art, low-cost perovskite photovoltaic minimodule, this system reaches a 2.3% solar-to-hydrocarbon efficiency, setting a benchmark for an inexpensive all–earth-abundant PV–EC system.

Carbon-based materials for stable, cheaper and large-scale processable perovskite solar cells

“…The achievement of stable, cheap and reproducible PSCs will be fundamental in view of their worldwide diffusion in the energy scenario, as well as integration with energy storage technologies. [38][39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47]…”

Suppressing Vacancy Defects and Grain Boundaries via Ostwald Ripening for High‐Performance and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells

“…As one kind of promising next‐generation photovoltaic devices, perovskite solar cell (PVSCs) have drawn enormous research interest mostly due to their impressively high power conversion efficiency (PCE) . It is reported that perovskite materials have many superior optoelectronic properties, such as appropriate bandgap, long carrier life‐time, high optical absorption coefficient, and low exciton bind energy, which contribute a lot to device performance .…”

Ein Fest der Wissenschaft inmitten der Natur: Die 54. Bürgenstock‐Konferenz

“…Er zeigte eine Parallelität zwischen Photosynthese und bioinspirierten Katalysatoren, wies auf die Bedeutung und das Funktionsprinzip des Photosystems I (PSI) und II (PSII) hin und betonte dessen Relevanz für CO 2 ‐Abscheidestrategien. Seine Gruppe hat in einem seiner aktuellen Beiträge ein künstliches Photosynthesesystem auf Nicht‐Edelmetall‐Basis entwickelt und konnte CO 2 in Kohlenwasserstoffe mit einer außergewöhnlichen Solar‐Kohlenstoff‐Effizienz von 2.3 % umwandeln . Unter anderem beschrieb er die elektrochemische Reduktion von CO 2 am Fe‐haltigen Zn‐basierten zeolithischen Imidazolatgerüst (ZIF‐8) als Heterogenkatalysator .…”