Title

Solar hydrogen via a photosynthetic Z-scheme analogue based on semiconductor powders

Abstract

Mother Nature uses solar energy to oxidize water to O2 and reduce protons onto NADP+ via dual photosystems connected by a string of redox agents. By splitting the energetically challenging task of decomposing water between two separate photochemical reactions, more abundant and lower energy solar photons can be employed. This same approach can be utilized with semiconductor powders. Based upon their electronic band structure, semiconductors can be chosen that selectively oxidize or reduce water. One can then select O2-evolving and H2-evolving photocatalysts, disperse or immobilize them in separate containers, and use an appropriate reversible redox agent as an electron shuttle between them. We have had some success with this photosynthetic Z-scheme analogue using an alkaline iodate redox electrolyte and a variety of semiconductor compounds, such as TiO2 and InP. Proof of concept has been demonstrated, but various materials problems underscore the need to identify other photocatalysts.

Publication Date

12-1-1998

Publication Title

ACS Division of Fuel Chemistry, Preprints

Volume

43

Issue

3

Number of Pages

378-380

Document Type

Article

Identifier

scopus

Socpus ID

3343004834 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/3343004834

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