Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “solar fuels”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 55 records · Page 3
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Using Surface Amide Couplings to Assemble Photocathodes for Solar Fuel Production Applications

A facile surface-amide coupling method was examined to attach dye and catalyst molecules to silatrane-decorated NiO electrodes. Using this method, electrodes with a push-pull dye were assembled, and characterized by photoelectrochemistry and transient absorption spectroscopy. The dye-sensitized electrodes exhibited hole injection into NiO and good photoelectrochemical stability in water, highlighting the stability of the silatrane anchoring group and the amide linkage. The amide coupling protocol was further applied to electrodes that contain a molecular proton reduction catalyst for use in photocathode architectures. Evidence for catalyst reduction was observed during hotoelectrochemical measurements and via fs-transient absorption spectroscopy demonstrating the possibility for application in photocathodes.

solar fuels, photocathode, Nickel oxide, silatrane↗
DOE OSTI2021

Surface Molecular Chemistry in Solar Fuel Research

Through this research, we aim to combine transition metal catalysts with light-absorbing semiconductors for use in efficient solar energy conversion. Upon receiving photogenerated electrons from the semiconductors, the transition metal catalysts could accelerate the reduction of carbon dioxide into energy-rich fuels. We have deposited cobalt complexes, including cobalt macrocycles and single cobalt catalysts, onto different semiconductors that demonstrated targeted activities in photochemical carbon dioxide reduction. The structures and catalytic mechanisms of the surface cobalt catalysts were investigated using advanced techniques, including X-ray absorption spectroscopy at DOE user facilities. Our research provides new strategies to enable effective coupling between molecularly defined catalytic sites with heterogeneous surfaces for converting solar energy into chemicals and fuels. Research results obtained through this project have been disseminated through journal publications and conference presentation. In addition, this project provided important interdisciplinary training opportunities for two postdoctoral scholars, four graduate researchers, and one high school student. It also allowed us to establish successful State-National Laboratory partnerships with Brookhaven National Lab and Argonne National Lab.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Current-Voltage Analysis Tool for Solar Fuel Production (CATS) v0.1

The program is expected to be a useful tool during operation of a range of solar-driven electrochemical devices, such as PV-electrolyzers and photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices. It makes use of current-voltage data collected during operation, operation parameters that are easily accessible for many devices of interest. The program captures the time-dependence of loss mechanisms at play during PEC device operation and opens the door for real-time optimizations of operational parameters like the feed humidity to minimize performance losses. Currently, the program is useful for applications where the current-voltage polarization response of the photoabsorber and electrolyzer are pre-recorded, and changes over time can be estimated based on the pre-recorded current-voltage scans. More complicated scenarios that involve permanent degradation of the PV component or complex calculations of the electrolyzer current-voltage characteristics may be included in future versions of this software. Aside from the possibility of deconvoluting loss mechanisms, this software can also reveal possible performance benefits by convective PV cooling when the photoabsorber is integrated into the electrolysis cell. The latter can highlight why certain device architectures may be beneficial over others. No similar technologies are known to the developer.

Kistler, Tobias↗
DOE OSTI2022

AMPED EFRC: Alliance for Molecular PhotoElectrode Design for Solar Fuels

Inspired by natural photosynthesis, the mission of the AMPED EFRC was to develop the fundamental molecular basis for solar-driven water oxidation and carbon dioxide reduction catalysis with dye-sensitized photoelectrodes. From 2014-2022, the Center advanced the state-of-the-art in molecule-decorated photoanodes for water oxidation and broke new ground in the development of photocathodes for CO 2 reduction. A collaborative approach brought together experts in inorganic synthesis, organometallic catalysis, interfacial materials synthesis, photoelectrochemistry, and time-resolved dynamics to address by Grand Challenges in the 2007 DOE BESAC report. Since 2009, the UNC EFRC has published 314 peer-reviewed journal articles, and 2 book chapters. More specifically there were 146 peer-reviewed publications,1-146 during the 2014-20 funding cycle, with 80% supported solely by the EFRC, and about half resulting from collaborations among multiple PIs. Three major scientific research areas emerged from AMPED that are described below with details of the most impactful advances for solar energy research.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Chemistry of Materials Underpinning Photoelectrochemical Solar Fuel Production

Since its inception, photoelectrochemistry has sought to power the generation of fuels, particularly hydrogen, using energy from sunlight. Efficient and durable photoelectrodes, however, remain elusive. Here we review the current state of the art, focusing our discussion on advances in photoelectrodes made in the past decade. We open by briefly discussing fundamental photoelectrochemical concepts and implications for photoelectrode function. We next review a broad range of semiconductor photoelectrodes broken down by material class (oxides, nitrides, chalcogenides, and mature photovoltaic semiconductors), identifying intrinsic properties and discussing their influence on performance. We then identify innovative in situ and operando techniques to directly probe the photoelectrode|electrolyte interface, enabling direct assessment of structure–property relationships for catalytic surfaces in active reaction environments. We close by considering more complex photoelectrochemical fuel-forming reactions (carbon dioxide and nitrogen reduction, as well as alternative oxidation reactions), where product selectivity imposes additional criteria on electrochemical driving force and photoelectrode architecture. By contextualizing recent literature within a fundamental framework, we seek to provide direction for continued progress toward achieving efficient and stable fuel-forming photoelectrodes.

08 HYDROGEN↗