Nanocrystalline Water Splitting Photodiodes II; Device Engineering, Integration and Scale-up

研究计划的目标被分解如下。该项目的主要目标是提供廉价、规模化、高效（太阳能转换效率为7%；量子产量为30%）、吸收可见光的纳米晶体半导体光催化剂二极管示范装置，用于分布式燃料生产和利用。这将通过以下目标来实现：*创建测试半导体光化学二极管并评估和优化其性能*利用新的和更成熟的路线来生产高活性，可见光吸收，纳米半导体金属氧化物光催化剂*在光催化剂支撑的水氧化侧合成，沉积和表征新型金属和金属氧化物纳米催化剂。*将最有前途的光催化剂纳米粉末（通过中试工厂CHFS制造）或商用半导体粉末转化为涂料。*使用光、溶胶凝胶、热、冷气体喷雾、溅射或相关沉积技术，将已知催化剂（例如Pt或Ni）的纳米颗粒涂覆在光催化剂薄膜的水还原侧（用于氢气生产）。*通过仔细控制界面来优化设备的性能*开发光化学设备的工程模型，以便根据机械，热，流体动力学和电荷（电子和离子）考虑因素为设计决策提供信息。*进行应用可行性评估，包括研究如何将光催化剂二极管演示体与家用燃料电池设备集成，以提供恒定或间歇性的电力，以及如何与太阳能热水和热电联产（CHP）设备一起运行。*测试与燃料电池、储氢和模拟国内电力需求相结合的设备，以开发和完善控制和操作方法，并检查物理集成以解决水和热管理问题。*根据不同的应用和系统配置，为设备的大小和优化操作制定系统模型。*在实际的国内分布式能源生产、储存和使用环境中测试工作原型。*对设备和系统进行生命周期评估，并进行技术经济（导致成本模型）分析，以便在该阶段结束时为商业化和投资策略提供信息。

Objectives The objectives of the research programme have been broken down as follows. The primary objective of this project is to deliver inexpensive, scaled-up, efficient (> 7% solar energy conversion efficiencies; quantum yields > 30%), visible-light absorbing nanocrystalline semiconductor photocatalyst diode demonstrators for distributed fuel production and utlilisation via household installations. This will be achieved by the following objectives: * To create test semiconductor photochemical diodes and assess and optimise their performance * To utilise novel and more established routes to produce highly active, visible light absorbing, nanoparticulate semiconductor metal oxide photocatalysts * To synthesise, deposit and characterise novel metal and metal oxide nano-catalysts onto the water oxidation side of the photocatalyst supports. * To convert the most promising photocatalyst nanopowders (made via pilot plant CHFS) or commercial semiconductor powders into coatings. * To assess the ability of the functionally graded photodiodes for water reduction and oxidation * To coat nanoparticles of known catalysts (e.g. Pt or Ni) onto the water reduction side (for hydrogen gas production) of the photocatalyst films using photo, sol gel, thermal, cold gas spray, sputtering or related deposition techniques. * To optimise the performance of the devices through careful control of the interfaces * To develop an engineering model of the photochemical device in order to inform design decisions based on mechanical, thermal, hydrodynamic and charge (electronic and ionic) considerations. * To perform an applications feasibility assessment, including investigation into how photocatalyst diode demonstrators can be integrated with working fuel cell devices for household use, to provide constant or intermittent power as well how to operate in conjunction with solar water heating and combined heat and power (CHP) devices. * To test a device in combination with a fuel cell, hydrogen storage and simulated domestic power demand to develop and refine control and operational methodologies and examine physical integration to address water and thermal management. * To develop a system model for the sizing of units and operational optimisation for different applications and system configurations. * To test the working prototype in an actual domestic, distributed energy production, storage and usage environment. * To perform a life-cycle assessment of the device and system as well as a techno-economic (leading to cost model) analysis to inform commercialisation and investment strategies at the end of this phase.