Project Details
Projekt
Hybrid interfaces for photoelectrochemical CO2 conversion
Subject Area
Technical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
Term
from 2020 to 2024
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 428712064
The use of sunlight energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into valuable products is a sustainable way of synthesizing chemical and fuels. Photoelectrochemical approaches combine light absorption with catalytic conversion into a single integrated device, sometimes referred to as an "artificial leaf". In analogy to the leaves of green plants, they can produce energy-rich chemicals from inputs of only sunlight, water, and CO2. A remaining challenge for the successful technical implementation of this method is to maintain high selectivities toward a desired product and high efficiencies in the conversion of solar energy.Photoelectrochemical systems for CO2 reduction (CO2R) based on inorganic semiconductors and catalysts offer interesting new possibilities for understanding and controlling catalytic mechanisms, as they use interface effects that are fundamentally different from purely metallic catalysts. In contrast to metallic electrocatalysts, semiconductor photoelectrodes enable decoupling of reaction rate and overvoltage. The rate can be controlled by the illuminance, while the overvoltage is a function of the electronic structure of the semiconductor. This concept opens a new approach to investigating the selectivity and efficiency of multi-stage photoelectrochemical CO2R to the many different products. We will use p-type photoelectrodes based on copper oxide with different electronic structures in combination with molecular electrocatalysts to investigate in detail the influence of the hybrid organic-inorganic interface on reaction selectivity and efficiency.
DFG Programme
Research Grants
International Connection
France, Switzerland
