Solar-driven water splitting

Fig. 10. Energy conversion efficiency of solar-driven water splitting to generate H2 as a function of temperature and photovoltaic conversion efficiency at AMI.5 insolation, at pfhO = 1 bar. Reprinted with permission from J. Phys. Chem. 52003, 107, 4253-4260. Copyright 2003...

Fig. 16. Photovoltaic and electrolysis charge transfer for thermal electrochemical solar driven water splitting.90 Photocurrent is shown for one, two or three 1.561 cm2 HECO 335 Sunpower Si photovoltaics in series at 50 suns. Photovoltaics drive 500-°C molten NaOH steam electrolysis using Pt gauze anode and cathodes. Inset electrolysis current stability.

Due to the intrinsic difficulties of sulfuric acid decomposition, we have introduced two new classes of solar driven TCWSCs by modifying the original S-NH3 cycle. They include (I) 12 metal sulfate-ammonia (MSO4-NH3) based TCWSCs and (II) 3 metal pyrosulfate-ammonia (M2S2O7-NH3) based TCWSCs. Our preliminary experimental results of the ammonia released from the ZnO + (NH4)S04 mixtures show the feasibility of these new cycles. More experiments are currently underway to determine the reaction mechanisms and the nature of the reaction intermediates and products formed. These experimental and thermodynamic analyses are expected to lead to development of a highly efficient, solar driven water splitting cycle. 

Saremi Yarahmadi S, Wijayantha KGU, Tahir AA, Vaidhyanathan B (2009) Nanostructured a-Fe203 electrodes for solar driven water splitting effect of doping agents on preparation and performance. J Phys Chem C 113 4768 778... 

Such a device needs a well-performing, fast and robust proton-exchange membrane. In principle, a cell designed for water splitting [92] under solar irradiation may also serve for C02-water co-processing. Therefore, work done on solar-driven water splitting [76] can be transferred to CO2 conversion into chemicals/fuels under solar irradiation. 

Abanades, S., Hamant, G., 2006. Thermochemical hydrogen production from a two-step solar-driven water-splitting cycle based on cerium oxides. Solar Energy 80 (12), 1611—1623. 

Aroutiounian VM, Arakelyan VM, Shahnazaryan GE. Metal oxide photoelectrodes for hydrogen generation using solar radiation-driven water splitting. Solar Energy 2005 78 581-92. 

Metal Oxide Photoelectrodes for Hydrogen Generation Using Solar Radiation Driven Water Splitting Topics reviewed include preparation of oxide electrodes, sensitization of wide band gap oxides, tandem cells, solid solutions of oxides and por-ous/nano-crystalline materials. 80... 

Solar energy-driven water splitting combines several attractive features for energy utilization. Both the energy source (sun) and the reactive media (H2O) are readily available and are renewable, and the resultant fuel (generated hydrogen) and the emission with fuel consumption (H2O) are... 

The remarkable system used by nature to convert sunlight into more useful energy equivalents is the source of inspiration for artificial photosynthesis - the development of synthetic systems that mimic the natural photosynthetic processes of light-driven water splitting and CO2 reduction, for the production of solar fuels. ... 

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