Project description DEENESFRITPL Making fuel cheaper with artificial photosynthesis Using artificial photosynthesis to reduce CO2 is a greener way to produce chemicals and fuels, but current photoelectrochemical systems have a high material cost. The EU-funded CHALCON project will seek to devise a cheaper system, using an efficient integrated system of a photocathode and photoanode for the simultaneous CO2 reduction and oxidation of alcohol or water, respectively. The project proposes a tandem design using a (1.8-2.0 eV) bandgap Cu(In,Ga)S2-based top cell photocathode and silicon (1.1 eV) photoanode as a bottom cell. Coupling reactions should lower the voltage requirement to allow bias-free production of valuable carbon monoxide and formic acid. The project will also test varying applied bias, light intensity, light wavelength and the catalyst coating layer. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Solar driven photoelectrohemical reduction of CO2 (CO2R) to valuable chemicals and fuels in artificial photosynthesis is of high importance for sustainable future and societal growth. Among current PEC systems, electrolysis from PV cells using III-V semiconductors is promising but high material cost is a major limitation. Integrated PV-PEC systems are desirable; however, they suffer from low performance due to insufficient solar spectrum utilization, carrier generation and transport losses, and poor catalysis. An efficient and low-cost integrated system of a photocathode (PC) and photoanode (PA) is yet to be realized for simultaneous CO2R and oxidation of alcohol or water, respectively. In this project, we propose a tandem architecture, including monolithic and wired connected design, comprising of (1.8 – 2.0 eV) bandgap Cu(In,Ga)S2 based top cell PC and silicon (1.1 eV) PA as bottom cell. The photovoltage of > 1.8 eV is targeted from CIGS-Si tandem system. This will be accomplished by synthesizing high-quality CIGS optimized for interface recombination coupled with nanostructured and dual side doped Si. The key aspect of the project is to couple the CO2R with the glycerol oxidation reaction which lowers the voltage requirement and makes it feasible for bias-free operation of CO2R and glycerol oxidation, thus producing valuable products like CO and formic acid at PC and PA respectively. PC and PA will be individually optimized for high voltage, carrier selectivity, light management, high surface area catalysis and protected surfaces to avoid degradation. The design of the project allows to investigate device with electrical bias, similar to “3-terminal” tandem PV device. Separate PC and PA reaction chamber will make product separation easier with accurate estimation of the fuel production efficiency. Applied bias, light intensity, light wavelength and catalyst coating layer will be varied and its relation to device performance and degradation will be established. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesorganic chemistryorganic acidsnatural scienceschemical scienceselectrochemistryelectrolysisnatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculeslipidsnatural scienceschemical sciencescatalysisengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuels Keywords Chalcogenides silicon tandem solar cells photoelectrochemical cells CO2 reduction Photovoltaics solar fuels integrated energy conversion systems optoelectronic properties Programme(s) HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Main Programme Topic(s) HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01-01 - MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2021 Call for proposal HORIZON-MSCA-2021-PF-01 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-PF - MSCA-PF Coordinator INTERUNIVERSITAIR MICRO-ELECTRONICA CENTRUM Net EU contribution € 191 760,00 Address Kapeldreef 75 3001 Leuven Belgium See on map Region Vlaams Gewest Prov. Vlaams-Brabant Arr. Leuven Activity type Research Organisations Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window EU contribution No data Partners (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA United States Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Franklin street 1111 12 floor 94607 Oakland ca See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding No data
