Sustainable Energy Systems: The Strategic Role of Chemical Energy Conversion

Abstract

In our globalized economy a multitude of energy systems are in operation. They present quite different structures and targets despite their common goal of supplying the energy needs for all societal activities reflecting the different boundary conditions of respective societies. The common quest for sustainability has given renewable electricity and ''solar fuels'' a high attention. The paper describes some underlying systemic aspects of integrating renewable with fossil energy and makes the point that without chemical energy conversion (CEC) this target will not be possible. A non-exhaustive list of grand challenges in CEC is derived. Some aspects of chemical energy science are discussed.

Crystallographic facet selective HER catalysis: exemplified in FeP and NiP2 single crystals

“…In the past few decades, renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, ocean wave, and geothermal, have gained popularity due to their reduced emission of greenhouse gases. [1][2][3] Unfortunately, many of these energy sources are intermittent in nature and cannot provide uninterrupted power generation. Many storage solutions for such intermittent energy production have been presented to address this downtime, such as batteries, capacitors, gravitational storage, or chemical bonds, allowing for power storage and delivery as required.…”

Mechanistic Parameters of Electrocatalytic Water Oxidation on LiMn2O4 in Comparison to Natural Photosynthesis

“…The scientific grand challenge of water splitting is the large overpotential of the half-reaction that oxidizes water to oxygen, [5] that is, the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The best currently known electrocatalysts for the OER suffer from overpotentials around 0.3 Vh ighert han the thermodynamic limit, [6] which is very large as it equals,f or example, the span between thel east and most active perovskite oxides.…”

Structure–Activity Relationships for Pt‐Free Metal Phosphide Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysts

“…There are several important renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, waves, and geothermal, which provide electricity without the emission of greenhouse gases . Notably, these energy sources are intermittent in time and are sometimes restricted to certain locations.…”

“…There are several important renewable energy sources, such as solar,w ind, waves,a nd geothermal,w hich providee lectricity withoutt he emission of greenhouse gases. [1][2][3] Notably,t hese energy sources are intermittent in time and are sometimes restricted to certainl ocations. Fortunately,t hese drawbacks can be overcome by the on-site production of H 2 fuel using renewable energy, [4] since H 2 is lightweight and offerst he highest specific energy of any non-nuclear fuel.…”