Project

electrosynthesis; photoelectrochemistry; artificial photosynthesis; sustainable energy economy; greenhouse gas; methanol; solar hydrogen; CO2 reduction

Lead
Elektrischer Strom wird in immer grösseren Mengen als Solarstrom gewonnen. Unterdessen wird die Speicherung solarer Energie als notwendig erkannt. Während Stromspeicherung als kostenintensiv erachtet wird, kommen solare Brennstoffe als kostengünstigere Alternative in Betracht. Solare Brennstoffe können in künstlicher Photosynthese gewonnen werden, deren einfachster Wasserstoffgas ist und durch solare Wasserspaltung photoelektrochemisch gewonnen werden kann.
Lay summary
Der Bedarf nach nachhaltig gewonnener Energie wird immer bedeutender. Elektrischer Strom wird in immer grösseren Mengen als Solarstrom gewonnen. Unterdessen wird die Speicherung solarer Energie als notwendig erkannt. Während die Stromspeicherung als kostenintensiv erachtet wird, kommen solare Brennstoffe als kostengünstigere Alternative in Betracht. Solare Brennstoffe können theoretisch mittels künstlicher Photosynthese gewonnen werden, deren einfachster das Wasserstoffgas ist und durch solare Wasserspaltung in photoelektrochemischen Zellen gewonnen werden kann. Schliesst man das Treibhausgas Kohlendioxid in die Reaktionsmechanismen der künstlichen Photosynthese mit ein, lassen sich theoretisch Kohlenwasserstoffe herstellen, unter anderem auch solche in flüssiger Form. Die dabei zu überwindenden technischen Probleme sind beachtlich, aber im Prinzip lösbar. Südafrika verfügt über eine enorme Energieeinstrahlung durch die Sonne sowie über reiche Vorkommen an Edelmetallen,üwelche als Elektrokatalysatoren bei der künstlichen Photosynthese von Nutzen sind. Darüber hinaus hat Südafrika wichtige technologische Erfahrung bei der Herstellung flüssiger Treibstoffe mittels Fischer-Tropsch Synthese. In Zusammenarbeit mit der University of Pretoria und weiteren Partnern in Südafrika werden die Schweizer Projektpartner einen Reaktor entwerfen, in dem mit Solarenergie Wasser elektrochemisch in Sauerstoff und Wasserstoff gespalten und der Wasserstoff mit Kohlendioxid elektrochemisch zu Kohlenwasserstoffen synthetisiert wird. Bitte sehen Sie sich folgenden Hyperlink an:  http://www.sun2fuels.ch

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 27.05.2014

Lead
For the reduction of the human carbon dioxide footprint we propose to use solar (or other renewable) energy and convert atmospheric or technical carbon dioxide and water to methanol, a liquid fuel which is easy to store and transport using readily existing technology.
Lay summary
This use-inspired proposal consists of two parts: 1) Water electrolysis in the presence of CO2 at the cathode which is coated with a conventional metal oxide hydrogenation catalyst such as Cu/ZnO which is expected to give methanol with high selectivity and yield. This part is centred at University of Pretoria and may be expected to produce first results during the first 18 months of the project, preferably obtained with a demonstration device, and will be developed further and scaled up towards a full device in the final 18 months period. 2) Artificial synthesis of methanol from CO2 and water in a photo-electrochemical cell for diagnostic monitoring and possible application of bias voltages, centred at Empa. The planned light harvesting components (Cu2O-CuO photocathodes and hematite-based photoanode heterostructures) have suitable band gaps (2.0-2.2 eV and 1.3-1.6 eV, respectively) and high absorption coefficients over a considerable part of the solar spectrum. The anode may initially be simply a platinum foil, but in view of avoiding transport limitations the design of a setup with short transport distances in the electrolyte will be addressed. Ideally, the system may be developed to work as a pure photoreduction in the absence of electrochemical assistance, much as natural photosynthesis which is to be mimicked. Empa will carry out initial exploratory experiments which permit a selection of systems for deeper investigation.

Direct link to Lay Summary

Last update: 27.05.2014

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Communication	Title	Media	Place	Year

Title	Year

Number	Title	Start	Funding scheme

Please get updates at http://www.sun2fuels.chFor the reduction of the human carbon dioxide footprint we propose to use solar (or other renewable) energy and convert atmospheric or technical carbon dioxide and water to methanol, a liquid fuel which is easy to store and transport using readily existing technology. This use-inspired proposal consists of two parts:1) Water electrolysis in the presence of CO2 at the cathode which is coated with a conventional metal oxide hydrogenation catalyst such as Cu/ZnO which is expected to give methanol with high selectivity and yield. This part is centred at University of Pretoria and may be expected to produce first results during the first 18 months of the project, preferably obtained with a demonstration device, and will be developed further and scaled up towards a full device in the final 18 months period.2) Artificial synthesis of methanol from CO2 and water in a photo-electrochemical cell for diagnostic monitoring and possible application of bias voltages, centred at Empa. The planned light harvesting components (Cu2O-CuO photocathodes and hematite-based photoanode heterostructures) have suitable band gaps (2.0-2.2 eV and 1.3-1.6 eV, respectively) and high absorption coefficients over a considerable part of the solar spectrum. The anode may initially be simply a platinum foil, but in view of avoiding transport limitations the design of a setup with short transport distances in the electrolyte will be addressed. Ideally, the system may be developed to work as a pure photoreduction in the absence of electrochemical assistance, much as natural photosynthesis which is to be mimicked. Empa will carry out initial exploratory experiments which permit a selection of systems for deeper investigation.