Electrode and Catalytic Materials for Solar Light Harvesting and Fuel Generation Systems

对气候变化的日益关切要求我们以对环境负责的方式开发新能源。已经开发出由太阳能、电化学过程、催化或其组合驱动的原型燃料生成装置。然而，需要在成本、可扩展性、长期稳定性和性能方面进行进一步优化，以便将这些方法继续扩展到现有和新兴的能源基础设施中。建议的研究计划涉及太阳光吸收和CO2和N2还原反应的电极材料和电催化剂的合理设计。将在三个主题下实现这些目标： 主题1：作为光电极的铜基和铁基纳米线阵列。对具有特殊光电性能的太阳能吸收材料的追求是廉价的，稳定的，无毒的，一直不太成功。纳米线阵列是传统单晶或薄膜太阳光吸收器的可行替代方案，因为线的几何形状允许更少的材料使用，增强的光捕获，有效的载流子收集，并实现机械灵活性。由铜和铁的氧化物和硫化物及其表面化学组成的地球丰富和廉价的金属硫属化物纳米线阵列将被开发用于太阳能转换器件中的光吸收。 主题2：用于CO2还原反应的催化剂开发和光电极集成。通过将其转化为增值材料来减轻CO2浓度增加的影响是一种有吸引力和有前途的解决方案。然而，需要开发具有高活性、稳定性和选择性的催化剂，以将CO2高效且经济地转化为增值材料。将合成由Ni、Fe、Co和Ga合金组成的纳米颗粒电催化剂并将其应用于CO2还原。它们将进一步集成到纳米线阵列中，以制造性能最佳的太阳能驱动的CO2转换器件。 主题3.金属氮化物作为N2还原的电极材料。金属氮化物是具有优异的机械和化学稳定性的坚固材料，并且可以在催化反应中替代高成本和有限供应的贵金属。高比表面积金属氮化物将被开发并应用于电化学N2还原合成氨反应。原位拉曼光谱的研究将进行，以获得基本的了解N2的反应性的金属氮化物表面。 拟议的研究对加拿大很重要，因为它将允许设计不含贵金属和无毒的性能更高的材料。拟议的研究计划将培养具有材料合成，表征以及材料在能源，可持续化学和催化过程中的应用技能的高素质人才。

Increasing concerns over climate change require us to develop new sources of energy in an environmentally responsible fashion. Prototypical fuel generation devices driven by solar, electrochemical processes, catalysis, or combinations thereof have been developed. However, further optimization is required in terms of cost, scalability, long term stability, and performance for continued expansion of these methodologies into existing and emerging energy infrastructure. The proposed research program involves the rational design of electrode materials and electrocatalysts for solar light absorption and CO2 and N2 reduction reactions. These goals will be pursued under three themes: Theme 1: Cu and Fe based nanowire arrays as photoelectrodes. The quest for solar absorber materials with exceptional optoelectronic properties that are inexpensive, stable, and non-toxic has been less than successful. Nanowire arrays are a viable alternative to traditional single-crystal or thin film solar light absorbers, as the wire geometry allows for less material usage, enhanced light trapping, efficient carrier collection, and enables mechanical flexibility. Earth abundant and inexpensive metal chalcogenide nanowire arrays made of Cu and Fe oxides and sulfides and their surface chemistry will be developed for light absorption in solar energy conversion devices. Theme 2: Catalyst development and integration with photoelectrodes for CO2 reduction reactions. Mitigating the effects of increasing CO2 concentration by converting it to value added materials is an attractive and promising solution. However, catalysts with high activity, stability, and selectivity need to be developed for efficient and cost effective conversion of CO2 into value added materials. Nanoparticle electrocatalysts composed of Ni, Fe, Co, and Ga alloys will be synthesized and applied towards CO2 reduction. They will be further integrated into nanowire arrays to fabricate optimally performing solar driven CO2 conversion devices. Theme 3. Metal nitrides as electrode materials for N2 reduction. Metal nitrides are robust materials that exhibit exceptional mechanical and chemical stability, and could replace noble metals of high cost and limited supply in catalytic reactions. High surface area metal nitrides will be developed and applied towards electrochemical N2 reduction reactions to synthesize ammonia. In-situ Raman spectroscopy studies will be done to gain fundamental understanding of N2 reactivity on metal nitride surfaces. The proposed research is of importance to Canada as it will allow for the design of materials of increased performance that are free of precious metals and are non-toxic. The proposed research program will train highly qualified personnel with skill sets in material synthesis, characterization, and the applications of materials in energy, sustainable chemistry, and catalytic processes.