Solar-Driven Reduction of 1 atm CO2 to Formate at 10% Energy-Conversion Efficiency by Use of a TiO2-Protected III-V Tandem Photoanode in Conjunction with a Bipolar Membrane and a Pd/C Cathode Electrocatalyst

Xinghao Zhou, Rui Liu, Ke Sun, Yikai Chen, Erik Verlage, Sonja A. Francis, Nathan S. Lewis, Cheng Xiang Xiang

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

A solar-driven CO2-reduction (CO2R) cell, consisting of a tandem GaAs/InGaP/TiO2/Ni photoanode in 1.0 M KOH(aq) (pH=13.7) to facilitate the oxygen-evolution reaction (OER), a Pd/C nanoparticle-coated Ti mesh cathode in 2.8 M KHCO3(aq) (pH=8.0) to perform the CO2R reaction, and a bipolar membrane to allow for steady-state operation of the catholyte and anolyte at different bulk pH values, was constructed. At the operational current density of 8.5 mA cm-2, in 2.8 M KHCO3(aq), the cathode exhibited <100 mV overpotential and >94% Faradaic efficiency for the reduction of 1 atm of CO2(g) to formate. The anode exhibited 320 ± 7 mV overpotential for the OER in 1.0 M KOH(aq), and the bipolar membrane exhibited ∼480 mV voltage loss with minimal product crossover as well as >90% and >95% selectivity for protons and hydroxide ions, respectively. The solar-driven CO2R cell converted sunlight to fuels at an energy-conversion efficiency of ∼10%.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProcesses at the Semiconductor Solution Interface 7
EditorsC. O'Dwyer, D. N. Buckley, A. Etcheberry, A. Hillier, R. P. Lynch, P. Vereecken, H. Wang, M. Sunkara
PublisherElectrochemical Society Inc.
Pages31-41
Number of pages11
Edition4
ISBN (Electronic)9781607688075
DOIs
StatePublished - 2017
Externally publishedYes
EventProcesses at the Semiconductor Solution Interface 7, PSSI 2017 - 231st ECS Meeting 2017 - New Orleans, United States
Duration: May 28 2017Jun 1 2017

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Number4
Volume77
ISSN (Print)1938-6737
ISSN (Electronic)1938-5862

Conference

ConferenceProcesses at the Semiconductor Solution Interface 7, PSSI 2017 - 231st ECS Meeting 2017
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityNew Orleans
Period5/28/176/1/17

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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