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光子将水分解为H2和O2所需的化学成分。CCI太阳能燃料第二阶段项目的主要科学成果包括：合成硅微线阵列;构建功能性硅微线-聚合物组件;阐明钴催化析氢的机理;构建具有高效率的NiMo/Si光电阴极;发现地球上丰富的高活性金属（Co，Ni）析氧催化剂;将析氧催化剂整合到金属氧化物半导体上;调整氧化钨的带隙;开发适用于复杂系统的新理论方法。第二阶段更新期间的研究建立在这些电子结构和机械基础上，旨在发现具有改进性能的新分子和材料。CCI Solar Fuels的研究人员正在开发整合光吸收、电荷传输和多电子氧化还原催化所需的使能科学，以实现高效的太阳能水分解。可扩展性和经济可行性需要由地球丰富的元素组成的材料。基本界面性质的阐明和控制对于将半导体、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。高优先级包括发现新的催化剂，将水分解为H2和O2，具有最大的速率和最小的过电位;纳米结构材料，以优化性能;阐明催化机制，以确定瓶颈，并为消除瓶颈的设计提供信息;整合催化剂和半导体，以生产功能光电极;开发离子导电膜分离器;在从事太阳能燃料研究的其他学术和政府实验室中，CCI太阳能燃料公司以其与美国国家科学基金会的愿景和目标的精确一致而闻名。CCI太阳能燃料研究推进发现，创新和教育超越现有知识的前沿，并招募未来几代科学家和工程师。CCI Solar Fuels活动直接影响数千名学生、博士后学者和广大公众。一个积极的推广计划提供果汁从果汁太阳能科学活动套件，小学，初中和高中学生。太阳能活动实验室套件涉及高中和本科生的研究，通过组合搜索太阳能材料。一个非正式的科学教育计划将这些活动带给新的和更年轻的观众。CCI太阳能燃料研究生和博士后学者在这些推广计划中获得导师的经验。让代表性不足的群体参与是一个特别强调的问题：18名高级调查员中有7名是代表性不足的群体的成员;两名调查员专门从事外联活动;两名调查员是代表性不足的学生人数众多的大学的教员。CCI太阳能燃料研究人员通过电视、广播和在线节目、公开讲座、科学研究会议以及与地方、州和联邦政府官员的磋商传达清洁可再生太阳能燃料的信息。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）计划的一部分。

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.