Floating perovskite-BiVO4 devices for scalable solar fuel production.
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Authors
Ucoski, Geani M
Uswachoke, Chawit
Kasap, Hatice
Lu, Haijiao
Hoye, Robert LZ
Publication Date
2022-08Journal Title
Nature
ISSN
0028-0836
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Type
Article
This Version
AM
Metadata
Show full item recordCitation
Andrei, V., Ucoski, G. M., Pornrungroj, C., Uswachoke, C., Wang, Q., Achilleos, D. S., Kasap, H., et al. (2022). Floating perovskite-BiVO4 devices for scalable solar fuel production.. Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04978-6
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) artificial leaves hold the potential to lower the costs of sustainable solar fuel production by integrating light harvesting and catalysis within one compact device. However, current deposition techniques limit their scalability1, whereas fragile and heavy bulk materials can affect their transport and deployment. Here we demonstrate the fabrication of lightweight artificial leaves by employing thin, flexible substrates and carbonaceous protection layers. Lead halide perovskite photocathodes deposited onto indium tin oxide-coated polyethylene terephthalate achieved an activity of 4,266 µmol H2 g-1 h-1 using a platinum catalyst, whereas photocathodes with a molecular Co catalyst for CO2 reduction attained a high CO:H2 selectivity of 7.2 under lower (0.1 sun) irradiation. The corresponding lightweight perovskite-BiVO4 PEC devices showed unassisted solar-to-fuel efficiencies of 0.58% (H2) and 0.053% (CO), respectively. Their potential for scalability is demonstrated by 100 cm2 stand-alone artificial leaves, which sustained a comparable performance and stability (of approximately 24 h) to their 1.7 cm2 counterparts. Bubbles formed under operation further enabled 30-100 mg cm-2 devices to float, while lightweight reactors facilitated gas collection during outdoor testing on a river. This leaf-like PEC device bridges the gulf in weight between traditional solar fuel approaches, showcasing activities per gram comparable to those of photocatalytic suspensions and plant leaves. The presented lightweight, floating systems may enable open-water applications, thus avoiding competition with land use.
Keywords
7 Affordable and Clean Energy, 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Relationships
Is supplemented by: https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.82770
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/L015978/1)
European Research Council (682833)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions (793996)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/S022953/1)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/N509620/1)
European Research Council (716471)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (1948662)
EPSRC (1948662)
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) ERC (882929)
Identifiers
External DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-04978-6
This record's URL: https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/338219
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