Standalone system yields clean fuel from sunlight and CO2
S. Himmelstein | August 26, 2020A device based on artificial photosynthesis technology has been engineered by researchers from the University of Cambridge, U.K., and the University of Tokyo to convert sunlight, water and carbon dioxide into oxygen and formic acid. These end products can be converted into hydrogen fuel or consumed directly.The photosheet converts sunlight, carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and formic acid, which can be used directly or converted into hydrogen. Source: University of Cambridge
Unlike an artificial leaf system developed previously by the researchers to produce syngas, the new wireless device does not incorporate solar cell components. Photosynthesis is simulated by cobalt- and ruthenium dioxide-based photocatalysts embedded in sheets composed of semiconductor powders. A 20 cm2 test sheet delivered a solar-to-formate conversion efficiency of 0.08 ± 0.01% with a selectivity for formate of 97 ± 3%.
The platform should be simple to scale up to synthesize devices for use in large arrays that can be commercially deployed for clean energy production. The researchers are working to improve system efficiency by evaluating different catalysts, which may also enable it to produce different types of solar fuels.