Journal
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Volume 10, Issue 10, Pages 2222-2230Publisher
ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY
DOI: 10.1039/c7ee01764b
Keywords
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Funding
- Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP), a DOE Energy Innovation Hub
- Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy [DE-SC0004993]
- Bay Area Photovoltaic Consortium [DE-EE0004946]
- Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, of the U.S. Department of Energy [DE-AC02-05CH11231]
- Hungarian American Enterprise Scholarship Fund (HAESF CIEE)
- National Research, Development and Innovation Office [NKFIH PD 121318]
- A*STAR National Science Scholarship
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Solar to chemical energy conversion could provide an alternative to mankind's unsustainable use of fossil fuels. One promising approach is the electrochemical reduction of CO2 into chemical products, in particular hydrocarbons and oxygenates which are formed by multi-electron transfer reactions. Here, a nanostructured Cu-Ag bimetallic cathode is utilized to selectively and efficiently facilitate these reactions. When operated in an electrolysis cell, the cathode provides a constant energetic efficiency for hydrocarbon and oxygenate production. As a result, when coupled to Si photovoltaic cells, solar conversion efficiencies of 3-4% to the target products are achieved for 0.35 to 1 Sun illumination. Use of a four-terminal III-V/Si tandem solar cell configuration yields a conversion efficiency to hydrocarbons and oxygenates exceeding 5% at 1 Sun illumination. This study provides a clear framework for the future advancement of efficient solar-driven CO2 reduction devices.
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