Electrode and Catalytic Materials for Solar Light Harvesting and Fuel Generation Systems

用于太阳能光收集和燃料生成系统的电极和催化材料

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-05143
• 负责人: Dasog, Mita
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: Dalhousie University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710710
• 关键词: Electrode; Catalytic; Materials; Solar; Light

Increasing concerns over climate change require us to develop new sources of energy in an environmentally responsible fashion. Prototypical fuel generation devices driven by solar, electrochemical processes, catalysis, or combinations thereof have been developed. However, further optimization is required in terms of cost, scalability, long term stability, and performance for continued expansion of these methodologies into existing and emerging energy infrastructure. The proposed research program involves the rational design of electrode materials and electrocatalysts for solar light absorption and CO2 and N2 reduction reactions. These goals will be pursued under three themes: Theme 1: Cu and Fe based nanowire arrays as photoelectrodes. The quest for solar absorber materials with exceptional optoelectronic properties that are inexpensive, stable, and non-toxic has been less than successful. Nanowire arrays are a viable alternative to traditional single-crystal or thin film solar light absorbers, as the wire geometry allows for less material usage, enhanced light trapping, efficient carrier collection, and enables mechanical flexibility. Earth abundant and inexpensive metal chalcogenide nanowire arrays made of Cu and Fe oxides and sulfides and their surface chemistry will be developed for light absorption in solar energy conversion devices. Theme 2: Catalyst development and integration with photoelectrodes for CO2 reduction reactions. Mitigating the effects of increasing CO2 concentration by converting it to value added materials is an attractive and promising solution. However, catalysts with high activity, stability, and selectivity need to be developed for efficient and cost effective conversion of CO2 into value added materials. Nanoparticle electrocatalysts composed of Ni, Fe, Co, and Ga alloys will be synthesized and applied towards CO2 reduction. They will be further integrated into nanowire arrays to fabricate optimally performing solar driven CO2 conversion devices. Theme 3. Metal nitrides as electrode materials for N2 reduction. Metal nitrides are robust materials that exhibit exceptional mechanical and chemical stability, and could replace noble metals of high cost and limited supply in catalytic reactions. High surface area metal nitrides will be developed and applied towards electrochemical N2 reduction reactions to synthesize ammonia. In-situ Raman spectroscopy studies will be done to gain fundamental understanding of N2 reactivity on metal nitride surfaces. The proposed research is of importance to Canada as it will allow for the design of materials of increased performance that are free of precious metals and are non-toxic. The proposed research program will train highly qualified personnel with skill sets in material synthesis, characterization, and the applications of materials in energy, sustainable chemistry, and catalytic processes.

对气候变化的日益关注要求我们以对环境负责的方式开发新能源。已经开发出由太阳能、电化学过程、催化或其组合驱动的原型燃料生成装置。然而，需要在成本、可扩展性、长期稳定性和性能方面进行进一步优化，以便将这些方法持续扩展到现有和新兴的能源基础设施中。拟议的研究计划涉及用于太阳光吸收以及CO2和N2还原反应的电极材料和电催化剂的合理设计。这些目标将在三个主题下实现： 主题 1：作为光电极的 Cu 和 Fe 基纳米线阵列。对具有卓越光电特性、廉价、稳定且无毒的太阳能吸收材料的探索并不成功。纳米线阵列是传统单晶或薄膜太阳能光吸收器的可行替代品，因为线的几何形状可以减少材料使用、增强光捕获、高效载流子收集并实现机械灵活性。地球上丰富且廉价的由铜和铁氧化物和硫化物制成的金属硫属化物纳米线阵列及其表面化学将被开发用于太阳能转换装置中的光吸收。 主题 2：用于 CO2 还原反应的催化剂开发和与光电极的集成。通过将二氧化碳转化为增值材料来减轻二氧化碳浓度增加的影响是一种有吸引力且有前途的解决方案。然而，需要开发具有高活性、稳定性和选择性的催化剂，以高效且具有成本效益地将二氧化碳转化为增值材料。由镍、铁、钴和镓合金组成的纳米颗粒电催化剂将被合成并应用于二氧化碳减排。它们将进一步集成到纳米线阵列中，以制造性能最佳的太阳能驱动的二氧化碳转换装置。 主题3.金属氮化物作为N2还原电极材料。金属氮化物是坚固的材料，具有出色的机械和化学稳定性，可以替代催化反应中成本高且供应有限的贵金属。高表面积金属氮化物将被开发并应用于电化学 N2 还原反应以合成氨。将进行原位拉曼光谱研究，以获得对金属氮化物表面上的 N2 反应性的基本了解。 拟议的研究对加拿大很重要，因为它将允许设计出不含贵金属且无毒的高性能材料。拟议的研究计划将培训高素质人才，使其具备材料合成、表征以及材料在能源、可持续化学和催化过程中的应用方面的技能。