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At least 199 records · Page 11

Effects of Surface Terminations of 2D Bi 2 WO 6 on Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting

Two-dimensional (2D)-structured photocatalysts with atomically thin layers not only have the potential to enhance hydrogen generation efficiency but also allow more direct investigations of the effects of surface terminations on photocatalytic activity. In this work, taking 2D Bi 2 WO 6 as a model, we found that the configuration of bilayer Bi 2 O 2 sandwiched by alternating WO 4 layers enabled the thermodynamic driving potential for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Without Pt deposition, the H 2 generation efficiency can reach to 56.9 μmol/g/h by 2D Bi 2 WO 6 as compared with no activity of Bi 2 WO 6 nanocrystals under simulated solar light. This configuration is easily functionalized by adsorption of Cl – /Br – to form Bi–Cl/Bi–Br bonds, which leads to the decrease of recombination in photogenerated charge carriers and narrower band gaps. This work highlights an effective way to design photocatalysts with efficient hydrogen evolution by tuning the surface terminations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Plan for Scaling Up Hydrogen Production with Nuclear Power Plants

The United States (U.S.) Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Light Water Reactor Sustainability (LWRS) Program Flexible Plant Operations and Generation (FPOG) Pathway is developing options to help U.S. nuclear power plants (NPPs) better integrate with intermittent wind and solar capacity and the recent surge of natural gas power generation. Research is focusing on improving NPP flexibility through hybrid production of electricity and other products, such as hydrogen (H 2 ) and energy storage for the purpose of shifting power production to a later time. In the case of H 2 production, the clean electrical and thermal power from an NPP can be used to split water using electrolysis. This report outlines the opportunity for NPPs to participate in a first-of-akind (FOAK) commercial nuclear H 2 project intended to bring industry partners together to create regional clean H 2 hubs. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) will fund at least one hub up to $1.25 billion as federal cost share totally no less than 50% to execute a nuclear H 2 project. The report discusses the set of activities that are now underway or that are planned for completion by the FPOG Pathway to reduce the economic, technical, regulatory, and safety risks of these projects. DOE cross-program activities are being coordinated to ensure success in the timeframe allowed by the BIL. Figure ES-1 shows the approximate schedule of coordinated research and development (R&D) and pilot demonstration projects leading up to the first commercial nuclear H 2 production project. Execution of this plan requires DOE and industry collaboration. DOE research accomplishments are being provided to the electric utilities or industries looking to participate in the H 2 hub proposal and project execution process.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Increasing Ligand Denticity and Stability for a Water Oxidation Electrocatalyst using P(V) as Connecting Element

Carboxylate complexes have risen to prominence in the field of water oxidation catalysis. Here for the first time we use the higher valence of phosphinates [P(V)] relative to that of carboxylates [C(IV)] to increase ligand denticity. We describe the synthesis and characterization of a new dianionic pentadentate ligand, bcpq 2− that contains a tridentate 2,2’-bipyridine-6-carboxylato moiety, in addition to a 6’-phosphinato substituent that acts as fourth ligand and bears a side arm containing a quinoline, the fifth ligand. The new bcpq ligand allows formation of [Ru(II)(bcpq)(L)] (2 a–b, L=picoline or isoquinoline) and in preliminary results, of a Co(II) complex. NMR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse and square wave voltammetry were used to characterize 2 a–b, with 2 b being characterized more extensively as a catalyst. Bulk electrolysis over 15 h at pH 7 was also used, showing that 2 b gave 100±5 % faradaic efficiency and remained completely homogeneous, whereas 1 b was no longer homogeneous; this comparison conclusively shows the advantage of the added denticity in the electrocatalytic context. Replacing carboxylate with P(V) phosphinate with an added arm may be used in other ligand systems to enhance the durability of homogeneous catalysts.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Atomic Layer Deposition for Spatial Control of Redox Reaction Selectivity

Photocatalytic water splitting holds great potential in the pursuit of the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrogen Shot initiative to bring the cost of H2 to $1/kg by 2031. A key challenge in the development of photocatalysts is increasing their overall solar-to-hydrogen efficiency by enhancing charge separation yields and redox selectivity. In this work, we use area selective ALD of oxide films to develop tunable interphase layers for selective oxidation and reduction reactions on a single substrate. This presentation details initial synthesis and characterization of Pt- and Au-based planar thin film electrodes in which Au regions were deactivated towards ALD growth through self-assembled thiol monolayers. The suppression of TiO2 ALD selectivity of thiols was assessed through ellipsometry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and cyclic voltammetry. A patterned planar sample comprised of interdigitated arrays of Au and Pt, used as a surrogate for a photocatalyst particle containing two different co-catalysts, was exposed to ALD growth and removal of the inhibitor species. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) was used then to probe the local activity of different regions of the patterned surface towards the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and iron oxidation and correlated with the ionic and e- blocking effects of the area selective ALD coating. We will also detail the application of these findings to the ongoing development of 3D, particle-based photocatalysts.

atomic layer deposition↗

Water Splitting: Emergent Degradation Phenomena Demonstrated on Resilient, Flexible, and Scalable Integrated Photoelectrochemical Cells (Adv. Energy Mater. 48/2020)

We report Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting provides a pathway to generate sustainable clean fuels using the two most abundant resources on Earth: sunlight and water. Currently, most of the successful models of PEC cells are still fabricated on small scales near 1 cm 2 , which largely limits the mass deployment of solar-fuel production. Here, the scale-up to 8 cm 2 of an integrated PEC (IPEC) device is demonstrated and its performance compared to a 1 cm 2 IPEC cell, using state-of-the-art iridium and platinum catalysts with III-V photoabsorbers. The initial photocurrents at 1 sun were 8 and 7 mA cm -2 with degradation rates of 0.60 and 0.47 mA cm -2 day -1 , during unbiased operation for the 1 and 8 cm 2 devices, respectively. Evaluating under outdoor and indoor conditions at two US National Laboratories revealed similar results, evidencing the reproducibility of this design’s performance. Furthermore, the emerging degradation mechanisms during scale-up are investigated and the knowledge gained from this work will provide feedback to the broader community, since PEC device durability is a limiting factor in its potential future deployment.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Emergent Degradation Phenomena Demonstrated on Resilient, Flexible, and Scalable Integrated Photoelectrochemical Cells

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting provides a pathway to generate sustainable clean fuels using the two most abundant resources on Earth: sunlight and water. Currently, most of the successful models of PEC cells are still fabricated on small scales near 1 cm 2 , which largely limits the mass deployment of solar-fuel production. Here, the scale-up to 8 cm 2 of an integrated PEC (IPEC) device is demonstrated and its performance compared to a 1 cm 2 IPEC cell, using state-of-the-art iridium and platinum catalysts with III–V photoabsorbers. The initial photocurrents at 1 sun are 8 and 7 mA cm -2 with degradation rates of 0.60 and 0.47 mA cm -2 day -1 , during unbiased operation for the 1 and 8 cm 2 devices, respectively. Additionally, evaluating under outdoor and indoor conditions at two U.S. National Laboratories reveals similar results, evidencing the reproducibility of this design's performance. Furthermore, the emerging degradation mechanisms during scale-up are investigated and the knowledge gained from this work will provide feedback to the broader community, since PEC device durability is a limiting factor in its potential future deployment.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Optically thin light-absorbers for increasing photochemical energy-conversion efficiencies

Photochemical energy conversion is more efficient when a single light-absorbing unit is split into multiple light-absorbing units (N) that are each 1/N as thick as the single light-absorbing unit and thus use the same amount of material as the single light-absorbing unit. For electrocatalytic parameters relevant to water electrolysis, the maximum efficiency for solar-to-fuel conversion from a 1.75 eV bandgap material increases from approximately 1% for a single light-absorbing unit to greater than 20% for 128 identical stacked light-absorbing units. Alterations in utilization of photons results in a better match of the light-absorber power output to the load of the chemical transformation and in the case of high-quality light-absorbers there is an added benefit from radiative coupling between the light-absorbing units via photon recycling.

Ardo, Shane↗

Accurate prediction of oxygen vacancy concentration with disordered A-site cations in high-entropy perovskite oxides

Abstract Entropic stabilized ABO 3 perovskite oxides promise many applications, including the two-step solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) production. Using binary and quaternary A-site mixed {A}FeO 3 as a model system, we reveal that as more cation types, especially above four, are mixed on the A-site, the cell lattice becomes more cubic-like but the local Fe–O octahedrons are more distorted. By comparing four different Density Functional Theory-informed statistical models with experiments, we show that the oxygen vacancy formation energies ( $${E}_{V}^{f}$$ E V f ) distribution and the vacancy interactions must be considered to predict the oxygen non-stoichiometry ( δ ) accurately. For STCH applications, the $${E}_{V}^{f}$$ E V f distribution, including both the average and the spread, can be optimized jointly to improve Δ δ (difference of δ between the two-step conditions) in some hydrogen production levels. This model can be used to predict the range of water splitting that can be thermodynamically improved by mixing cations in {A}FeO 3 perovskites.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Basal Plane Hydrogen Evolution Activity from Mixed Metal Nitride MXenes Measured by Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy

2D early transition metal carbide and nitride MXenes have intriguing properties for electrochemical energy storage and electrocatalysis. These properties can be manipulated by modifying the basal plane chemistry. Here, mixed transition metal nitride MXenes, M-Ti 4 N 3 T x (M = V, Cr, Mo, or Mn; T x = O and/or OH), are developed by modifying pristine exfoliated Ti 4 N 3 T x MXene with V, Cr, Mo, and Mn salts using a simple solution-based method. The resulting mixed transition metal nitride MXenes contain 6–51% metal loading (cf. Ti) that exhibit rich electrochemistry including highly tunable hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalytic activity in a 0.5 m H 2 SO 4 electrolyte as follows: V-Ti 4 N 3 T x > Cr-Ti 4 N 3 T x > Mo-Ti 4 N 3 T x > Mn-Ti 4 N 3 T x > pristine Ti 4 N 3 T x with overpotentials as low as 330 mV at -10 mA cm -2 with a charge-transfer resistance of 70 O. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) reveals the electrochemical activity of individual MXene flakes. The SECM data corroborate the bulk HER activity trend for M-Ti 4 N 3 T x as well as provide the first experimental evidence that HER results from catalysis on the MXene basal plane. These electrocatalytic results demonstrate a new pathway to tune the electrochemical properties of MXenes for water splitting and related electrochemical applications.

2D materials↗

Opportunities and Implications for Low-Cost Hydrogen Production from Water Electrolysis in a Decarbonizing Power Sector

Increased deployment of renewable power generation such as wind and solar photovoltaics along with electrification of transportation and other sectors are driving changes in the operation and economics of the electric power sector. Simultaneously, efforts to decarbonize other sectors of the economy such as steelmaking and heavy duty transportation will require significant amounts of electricity to drive electrons to molecules processes. Hydrogen production via water splitting electrolysis is a key near-term technology for decarbonization that interfaces between the power sector and decarbonization efforts in industrial sectors. This poster examines the implications for increased deployment of water electrolyzers in a rapidly evolving energy system. The economic opportunities for low-cost hydrogen production from electrolysis that are facilitated by highly renewable grids will be examined and discussed. Durability, cost, and operational strategies for electrolyzers interacting in these future energy systems are key to enabling hydrogen at scale. This poster will overview these considerations and ongoing work within the U.S. Department of Energy’s H2NEW consortium that is focused on addressing them.

electrolysis↗

Prospects for engineering Ralstonia eutropha and Zymomonas mobilis for the autotrophic production of 2,3-butanediol from CO 2 and H 2

The decarbonization of the chemical industry and a shift toward circular economies because of high global CO 2 emissions make CO 2 an attractive feedstock for manufacturing chemicals. Moreover, H 2 is a low-cost and carbon-free reductant because technologies such as solar-driven electrolysis and supercritical water (scH 2 O) gasification enable sustainable production of molecular hydrogen (H 2 ). We review the recent advances in engineering Ralstonia eutropha, the representative species of "Knallgas" bacteria, for utilizing CO 2 and H 2 to autotrophically produce 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO). This assessment is focused on state-of-the-art approaches for splitting H 2 to supply energy in the form of ATP and NADH to power cellular reactions and employing the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle for CO 2 fixation. Major challenges and opportunities for application and future perspectives are discussed in the context of developing other promising CO 2 and H 2 -utilizing microorganisms, exemplified by Zymomonas mobilis.

42 ENGINEERING↗

From Pollutant Removal to Renewable Energy: MoS2-Enhanced P25-Graphene Photocatalysts for Malathion Degradation and H2 Evolution

The widespread presence of pesticides—especially malathion—in aquatic environments presents a major obstacle to conventional remediation strategies, while the ongoing global energy crisis underscores the urgency of developing renewable energy sources such as hydrogen. In this context, photocatalytic water splitting emerges as a promising approach, though its practical application remains limited by poor charge carrier dynamics and insufficient visible-light utilization. Herein, we report the design and evaluation of a series of TiO2-based ternary nanocomposites comprising commercial P25 TiO2, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), with MoS2 loadings ranging from 1% to 10% by weight. The photocatalysts were fabricated via a two-step method: hydrothermal integration of rGO into P25 followed by solution-phase self-assembly of exfoliated MoS2 nanosheets. The composites were systematically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity was assessed through two key applications: the degradation of malathion (20 mg/L) under simulated solar irradiation and hydrogen evolution from water in the presence of sacrificial agents. Quantification was performed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and thermal conductivity detection (GC-TCD). Results showed that the integration of rGO significantly enhanced surface area and charge mobility, while MoS2 served as an effective co-catalyst, promoting interfacial charge separation and acting as an active site for hydrogen evolution. Nearly complete malathion degradation (~100%) was achieved within two hours, and hydrogen production reached up to 6000 µmol g−1 h−1 under optimal MoS2 loading. Notably, photocatalytic performance declined with higher MoS2 content due to recombination effects. Overall, this work demonstrates the synergistic enhancement provided by rGO and MoS2 in a stable P25-based system and underscores the viability of such ternary nanocomposites for addressing both environmental remediation and sustainable energy conversion challenges.

Chemistry↗

The role of current and emerging technologies in meeting Japan’s mid- to long-term carbon reduction goals

Using Japan as a proxy for a developed nation, we investigated the role of existing and nascent technologies in curbing carbon emissions. We simulated possible pathways to meeting 2030 and 2050 emission targets within the Japanese electricity supply sector using a single-region model in The Integrated MARKAL-EFOM System (TIMES). Critically, our simulations incorporate novel technologies like hydrogen electrolysers, carbon capture, photochemical water splitting, and emerging photovoltaic cells, assess long-term impacts up to the year 2100, and include life-cycle emissions and learning curves for parameters such as investment cost, efficiency, and emission coefficients. Results indicate that a hybrid approach, using nuclear power and hydrogen from renewable energy-based electrolysis, is cost-effective and provides long-term emission reduction along with energy security. Finally, nuclear, wind, solar, and hydrogen from renewables emerge as key emission reduction technologies, while natural gas with carbon capture plays a minor role in achieving emission reduction targets.

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗

Bipolar Membranes for Ion Management in (Photo)Electrochemical Energy Conversion

Conspectus (Photo)electrochemical energy conversion is important in the development of a carbon-neutral energy economy because it can provide a pathway for mitigating the intermittency of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. In order to operate efficiently, these technologies, which include photoelectrochemical cells, water and CO 2 electrolyzers, fuel cells, and redox flow batteries, require fast charge transfer kinetics at the electrode/electrolyte interface as well as robust ion management in the electrolyte. In conventional electrolyzers and fuel cells, the electrolyte is strongly acidic or basic and ionic current is carried by H + or OH – ions. In contrast, photoelectrodes and electrocatalysts for water splitting are often studied in buffered solutions. The question of ion balance in these systems led us to analyze the polarization losses due to ion concentration gradients in cells that employed various buffer–membrane combinations. Continuously driving the buffer ions across an ionomer membrane not only lowers the buffer capacity of an aqueous electrolyte but also introduces pH gradients that result in significant energy losses. To address the problem, we and other groups have studied the use of reverse-biased bipolar membranes (BPMs) in (photo)electrolytic cells. BPMs consist of an anion exchange layer (AEL) laminated with a cation exchange layer (CEL) and are usually equipped with a catalytic layer in between to accelerate the water dissociation reaction. At the AEL/CEL interface, water dissociates into protons and hydroxide ions, which replenish those consumed at the cathode and anode. Compared to conventional water electrolyzers with proton/anion exchange membranes (PEM/AEM), BPM electrolyzers provide the unique advantage of continuously operating the cathode and anode under different pH conditions, which is desirable when the two electrode reactions have different pH requirements. BPMs also enable the use of buffered electrolytes at pH values that are optimized for electrode stability and product selectivity in applications such as CO 2 electrolysis. Product crossover losses and CO 2 pumping can be dramatically reduced in BPM-based CO 2 electrolyzers, relative to conventional alkaline membranes, by electrostatic repulsion (of anionic products) and electroosmotic drag (for neutral products). BPM-based gas fed CO 2 electrolyzers can achieve high current density, but they suffer from low Faradaic efficiency (FE) due to the acidic local environment of the CEL. This problem can be mitigated by adding an aqueous buffering layer or by creating a weak acid cation exchange film on the CEL face of the membrane. The use of BPMs in fuel cells and redox flow batteries offers some interesting advantages. Configurations with both reverse and forward bias have been studied, but forward bias has been favored due to material compatibility, reaction kinetics, and thermodynamic considerations. The net reaction at the AEL/CEL interface is the acid–base neutralization reaction, which has a high inherent reaction rate constant, but in the BPM is limited to a nanometric space-charge layer and requires efficient catalysis to achieve high current density. Understanding the mechanism of the acid–base neutralization and the opposite process, the water dissociation reaction, will be essential for improving the performance of forward-biased BPMs. In conclusion, this Account reviews our current understanding of the working mechanisms of BPMs and discusses how we can use them to effectively manage ions for various (photo)electrochemical applications.

Yan, Zhifei↗

Advances in Colloidal InP-Based Quantum Dots for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution

Photocatalytic materials for hydrogen generation are typically categorized into UV-absorbing metal oxides and visible-range semiconductors such as chalcogenides or perovskites, which often incorporate toxic elements. To address environmental concerns of the latter group, indium phosphide (InP)-based quantum dots (QDs) have recently emerged as a less toxic alternative. These nanocrystals (NCs) benefit from a broadband and tunable absorption spectrum, which is well matched for solar photochemistry, and offer suitable electronic characteristics to drive photoinduced charge separation. This perspective provides a comprehensive summary of the recent advancements in developing InP-based NCs with a focus on photocatalytic hydrogen production. We discuss synthetic strategies that enhance the catalytic activity of these materials and highlight key challenges that must be addressed to enhance their performance. Finally, we explore future research directions aimed at improving photocatalytic efficiency and integrating InP-based QDs into practical solar-to-fuel conversion systems.

Hydrogen↗

The Potential for Electrons to Molecules Using Solar Energy

Solar photovoltaics (PV) do and will continue to play an important role in the electric power sector and can potentially support other sectors that are in need of decarbonized energy sources. Chemicals such as hydrogen, ammonia, and hydrocarbons including ethylene are currently produced from natural gas and crude oil. Thus, processes to produce them emit carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases both directly and in upstream feedstock recovery processes. Electrons-to-molecules (E2M) technologies are being developed to convert carbon dioxide, water, and atmospheric nitrogen to desired chemical products and they are large electricity loads. Thus, they are emerging as a potential applications for PV. In its essence, they can act as electrochemical energy storage, thereby providing a means to further utilize the energy generated from PV and store it in molecular form. E2M systems offer an array of potential products and system designs that can be tailored to different end-uses and applications. It involves electrochemical conversion which uses electricity to break molecular bonds and produce new molecules. Various electrochemical conversion technologies split water into hydrogen and oxygen, reduce carbon dioxide into other hydrocarbon molecules, and several other possible combinations. While this Chapter does not attempt to provide an exhaustive summary or analysis of the potential products from E2M systems, it does provide an initial overview of the potential opportunities and challenges for PV and E2M systems in this space. This Chapter considers the potential for E2M to produce key chemicals and fuels that currently rely on hydrocarbons for production, either as a reactant or a source of high-grade heat.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Robust and tunable oxide nanoscrolls for solar-driven H 2 generation and storage

Hydrogen gas is a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its high energy output and environmentally safe byproducts. Various morphologies of photocatalytic materials have been explored for high-efficiency H 2 production, for instance, quasi-1D nanoscroll structures that provide a larger surface-to-volume ratio. Recently, we predicted layer-by-layer formation of stable oxide nanoscrolls directly from dichalcogenide precursors, eliminating the need for costly formation of two-dimensional oxides for a roll-up synthesis of nanoscrolls. Here, in this study, we evaluate the suitability of those oxide nanoscroll materials—MoO 3 , WO 3 , PdO 2 , HfO 2 , and GeO 2 —for solar-driven photocatalytic H 2 production and storage. Using excited state theory coupled with Bethe–Salpeter equation simulations, we discern their electronic and optical properties as a function of interlayer scroll spacing and find them to be highly conducive for solar-driven photocatalysis. Additionally, using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations, we show that they are also suitable for H 2 storage as the nanoscrolls exhibit an effective trapping of hydrogen, even in the presence of defects and vacancies in the oxides. This work thus demonstrates the discovery of robust and tunable oxide nanoscrolls as materials for advancing solar-driven hydrogen technologies.

Chemical compounds↗

Factors Governing Oxygen Vacancy Formation in Oxide Perovskites

The control of oxygen vacancy (V O ) formation is critical to advancing multiple metal-oxide-perovskite-based technologies. In this work, we report the construction of a compact linear model for the neutral V O formation energy in ABO 3 perovskites that reproduces, with reasonable fidelity, Hubbard-U-corrected density functional theory calculations based on the state-of-the-art, strongly constrained and appropriately normed exchange-correlation functional. We obtain a mean absolute error of 0.45 eV for perovskites stable at 298 K, an accuracy that holds across a large, electronically diverse set of ABO 3 perovskites. Our model considers perovskites containing alkaline-earth metals (Ca, Sr, and Ba) and lanthanides (La and Ce) on the A-site and 3d transition metals (Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, and Ni) on the B-site in six different crystal systems (cubic, tetragonal, orthorhombic, hexagonal, rhombohedral, and monoclinic) common to perovskites. Physically intuitive metrics easily extracted from existing experimental thermochemical data or via inexpensive quantum mechanical calculations, including crystal bond dissociation energies and (solid phase) reduction potentials, are key components of the model. Beyond validation of the model against known experimental trends in materials used in solid oxide fuel cells, the model yields new candidate perovskites not contained in our training data set, such as (Bi,Y)(Fe,Co)O 3 , which we predict may have favorable thermochemical water-splitting properties. The confluence of sufficient accuracy, efficiency, and interpretability afforded by our model not only facilitates high-throughput computational screening for any application that requires the precise control of V O concentrations but also provides a clear picture of the dominant physics governing V O formation in metal-oxide perovskites.

08 HYDROGEN↗