CCI Solar Fuels

太阳能燃料化学创新二期中心的研究重点是发现和开发利用太阳能光子驱动水分解成H2和O2所需的化学成分。CCI太阳能燃料二期项目的主要科研成果包括：硅微线阵列的合成；功能性硅微线-聚合物组件的构建co催化析氢机理的探讨超高效率NiMo/Si光电阴极的构建；高活性富土金属基（Co, Ni）析氧催化剂的发现；析氧催化剂在金属氧化物半导体上的集成氧化钨的带隙调谐；发展适用于复杂系统的新理论方法。第二阶段更新的研究建立在这些电子结构和机械基础上，目标是发现具有改进性能的新分子和材料。CCI太阳能燃料研究人员正在开发集成光吸收、电荷传输和多电子氧化还原催化以实现高效太阳能水分解所需的科学技术。可扩展性和经济可行性需要由地球上丰富的元素组成的材料。阐明和控制基本的界面性质对于半导体、催化剂和膜集成到功能组件中是必不可少的。CCI太阳能燃料的合作研究重点是具有最佳光吸收和电荷分离特性的新型半导体。优先事项包括发现新的催化剂，以最大的速率和最小的过电位将水分解成H2和O2；纳米结构材料性能优化；阐明催化机制，以确定瓶颈，并为消除瓶颈的设计提供信息；整合催化剂与半导体，生产功能性光电极；离子导电膜分离器的研制；构建光阳极-膜-光电阴极组件。在其他从事太阳能燃料研究的学术和政府实验室中，CCI太阳能燃料以其与美国国家科学基金会的愿景和目标的精确一致而脱颖而出。CCI太阳能燃料研究推动发现、创新和教育超越当前知识的前沿，并招募未来几代科学家和工程师。CCI太阳能燃料活动直接影响到成千上万的学生、博士后学者和广大公众。一项积极的推广计划向小学、初中和高中学生提供Juice-from-Juice太阳能科学活动工具包。太阳能活动实验室套件涉及高中和本科生通过组合搜索太阳能材料的研究。一个非正式的科学教育项目将这些活动带给新的和更年轻的观众。CCI太阳能燃料的研究生和博士后学者在这些拓展项目中获得导师的经验。让代表性不足的群体参与进来是一个特别的重点：18名高级调查员中有7名是代表性不足群体的成员；两名调查员专门负责外联活动；两名调查人员是大学的教职员工，这些大学的学生人数很多。CCI太阳能燃料研究人员在电视、广播和在线节目中传递清洁可再生太阳能燃料的信息；公开讲座、科研会议；并与地方、州和联邦政府官员进行磋商。可再生太阳能燃料的技术、环境、经济和社会效益影响着地球上的每一个人。太阳能燃料中心是化学创新中心（CCI）项目的一部分。

Research in the Phase II Center for Chemical Innovation on Solar Fuels focuses on discovery and development of the chemical components required to use solar photons to drive water splitting to H2 and O2. Major scientific achievements of the CCI Solar Fuels Phase II project include: synthesis of Si microwire arrays; construction of functional silicon microwires-polymer assemblies; elucidation of the mechanism of Co-catalyzed hydrogen evolution; construction of NiMo/Si photocathodes with ultrahigh efficiencies; discovery of highly active earth-abundant metal-based (Co, Ni) oxygen evolution catalysts; integration of oxygen evolution catalysts onto metal-oxide semiconductors; band gap tuning of tungsten oxide; and development of new theoretical methods applicable to complex systems. Research during the Phase II renewal builds on these electronic structural and mechanistic foundations in targeting the discovery of new molecules and materials with improved performance. CCI Solar Fuels researchers are developing the enabling science required to integrate light absorption, charge transport, and multielectron redox catalysis for efficient solar water splitting. Scalability and economic viability require materials composed of earth-abundant elements. Elucidation and control of fundamental interfacial properties are essential for the integration of semiconductors, catalysts, and membranes into functional assemblies. Collaborative research efforts in CCI Solar Fuels focus on new semiconductors with optimum light-absorption and charge-separation properties. High priorities include discovering new catalysts that split water into H2 and O2 with maximum rates and minimum overpotentials; nanostructuring materials to optimize performance; elucidating catalytic mechanisms to identify bottlenecks and inform designs for their removal; integrating catalysts and semiconductors to produce functional photoelectrodes; developing ion-conductive membrane separators; and constructing photoanode-membrane-photocathode assemblies.Among the other academic and government laboratories engaged in solar fuels research, CCI Solar Fuels distinguishes itself by its precise alignment with the vision and goals of the National Science Foundation. CCI Solar Fuels research advances discovery, innovation, and education beyond the frontiers of current knowledge, and recruits future generations of scientists and engineers. CCI Solar Fuels activities directly impact thousands of students, postdoctoral scholars, and members of the public at large. A vigorous outreach program delivers Juice-from-Juice solar science activity kits to elementary, middle, and high school students. Solar Energy Activity Lab kits involve high school and undergraduate students in research through a combinatorial search for solar materials. An Informal Science Education program brings these activities to new and younger audiences. CCI Solar Fuels graduate students and postdoctoral scholars acquire experience as mentors in these outreach programs. Involving underrepresented groups is a particular point of emphasis: seven of eighteen senior investigators are members of underrepresented groups; two investigators focus exclusively on outreach activities; and two investigators are faculty members at universities with large underrepresented student populations. CCI Solar Fuels researchers deliver the message of clean renewable solar fuels in television, radio, and online programs; public lectures, scientific research conferences; and consultations with local, state, and federal government officials. The technological, environmental, economic, and social benefits of renewable solar fuels impact every human being on Earth. The Center on Solar Fuels is funded as part of the Centers for Chemical Innovation (CCI) program.