Development of catalyst and reactor systems for the high efficiency conversion of sunlight to electricity and sanitary hot water

地球表面每小时从太阳接收的能量超过世界目前每年的能源消耗。这种辐射能有可能成为化石燃料的理想替代品，并解决世界各国面临的能源短缺和环境问题。目前，太阳能利用的主要挑战是以高能效和高成本效益的方式将阳光转化为适当形式的能源，如电或热，以及储存这种能源。在拟议的研究中，新的纳米复合材料将被合成，表征，并将在与太阳能电池的有效运行兼容的条件下测试它们作为太阳能水消毒应用中的光催化剂的有用性。各种碱化合物，掺杂剂，和制备参数将进行检查，以优化的新型催化剂。将开发和测试不同的光反应器设计，以最大限度地提高这些新系统的效率。在新设计的系统中，光伏和光催化步骤的耦合也将进行实验研究，并应用于电力和卫生热水的高效生产。该研究项目的预期成果包括创造在阳光下活跃的新型光催化剂，以及开发具有成本和能源效率的光反应器系统。这些成果将大大有助于解决加拿大人和世界各地人民面临的关键能源和环境问题。此外，这个多学科的研究项目将是理想的培训HQP。

Every hour the Earth's surface receives more energy from the sun than the world's current annual energy consumption. This radiative energy can potentially become the ideal alternative to fossil fuels and a solution to the energy shortage and environmental problems facing all countries in the world. Currently, the major challenge for solar energy utilization is the energy-efficient and cost-effective conversion of sunlight to appropriate forms of energy such as electricity or heat, as well as the storage of that energy. In the proposed research, new nano-composites will be synthesized, characterized, and their usefulness as photocatalysts in solar-powered water disinfection applications will be tested under conditions compatible with the efficient operation of solar cells. A variety of base compounds, doping agents, and preparation parameters will be examined in order to optimize the novel catalysts. Different photoreactor designs will be developed and tested to maximize the efficiency of these new systems. The coupling of photovoltaic and photocatalytic steps in a newly designed system will also be experimentally studied and applied to the high efficiency production of electricity and sanitary hot water. The expected outcomes of the research project include the creation of new photocatalysts that are active under sunlight, and the development of a cost- and energy- efficient photoreactor system. These results will significantly contribute to the solution of key energy and environmental problems facing Canadians and people around the world. In addition, this multi-disciplinary research project will be ideal for the training of HQP.