CAREER: High-efficiency Regenerative Solar Energy Storage by Photoelectrochemical Redox Reactions

研究目标和方法-本研究的目的是探索高效的再生太阳能存储，通过使用光电化学氧化还原反应和先进的半导体。研究方法包括：获得掺杂高活性光催化剂的关键制备参数，研究光电化学稳定性、活性、存储容量和效率，设计并建立光电化学连续流动反应器，研究连续能量转换效率和动力学，研究光催化剂的光催化性能。并对连续反应器进行计算流体动力学模拟。拟议的多学科研究将解决过去阻碍高效太阳能存储发展的三大挑战，即，活性和稳定的材料、高容量能量介质和可逆转化动力学。该项目致力于建立一种系统设计和有效集成高效再生太阳能储能的方法，作为水分解制氢的替代方案。它可以提供新的视角，将提升我们对光催化机制的理解，使我们能够有效地预测潜在系统的光电化学功能和稳定性。更广泛的影响-拟议研究的成功执行将对广泛的研究领域产生深远的影响，如太阳能发电，可再生能源，储能发电，以及许多其他可持续和能源研究领域。&拟议的研究将以更高的效率、更大的存储容量和更容易扩大的能力来改变太阳能存储。教育计划将融入多学科研究，旨在将范式从以讲座为基础的单一学科教学转变为以学生为中心的多学科学习。

Research Objectives and Approaches - The objective of this research is to explore high-efficiency regenerative solar energy storage, by using photoelectrochemical redox reactions and advanced semiconductors. The approaches are to obtain key fabrication parameters of the doped highly active photocatalysts; to study photoelectrochemical stability, activity, and storage capacity and efficiency; to design and set up a photoelectrochemical continuous flow reactor and investigate continuous energy conversion efficiency and kinetics; and to conduct computational fluid dynamic simulation of the continuous reactor.Intellectual merit - The proposed multidisciplinary research will resolve the three major challenges that have hindered the development of efficient solar energy storage in the past, i.e., active and stable materials, high-capacity energy medium, and reversible conversion kinetics. This project strives to establish a methodology for the systematic design and effective integration of high-efficiency regenerative solar energy storage, as an alternative to H2 production from water splitting. It can provide new perspectives that would elevate our understanding of the photocatalytic mechanisms, allowing us to effectively predict the photo-electrochemical functionality and stability of potential systems.Broader impacts - Successful execution of the proposed research will have profound impacts on broad research areas such as solar power, renewable energy, energy storage & generation, and many other sustainable and energy research fields. The proposed research will transform solar energy storage with better efficiency, improved storage capacity, and easy scale-up capability. Educational program will be integrated into the multidisciplinary research, aiming to shift the paradigm from lecture-based single-discipline teaching to student-centric multidisciplinary learning.