Silicon nanoparticle/conjugated polymer hybrids for solar driven hydrogen production

为了实现到2050年实现净零排放的宏伟目标，加拿大已将氢确定为关键的燃料来源。在工业上，氢气主要是通过天然气的蒸汽重整生产的，据估计，每生产一吨氢气会产生8.6吨二氧化碳。因此，负担得起的绿色氢气生产对于燃料电池的广泛商业化和减少蒸汽-甲烷重整的碳足迹至关重要。该项目将与莱布尼茨聚合物研究所的研究人员合作，重点开发廉价的光催化剂，通过太阳能驱动的水分解反应生产氢气。将制备由硅纳米颗粒和共轭聚合物组成的杂化材料，以提高催化剂的分散性、氧化稳定性和寿命。此外，通过精确设计混合材料，太阳能光吸收的数量和光谱跨度以及总体氢气收率也将得到提高。这项工作将为开发具有成本效益的“绿色氢”生产催化剂奠定基础。它将结合德国研究人员的聚合物专业知识和加拿大的硅纳米结构知识，在两国之间形成一个强大的网络，以减少碳排放的共同目标。

To achieve the ambitious goal of net-zero emissions by 2050, Canada has identified hydrogen as a key fuel source. Industrially, hydrogen is predominantly produced via steam reforming of natural gas which is estimated to generate 8.6 tons of carbon dioxide per ton of hydrogen produced. Therefore, affordable green production of hydrogen is extremely important for extensive commercialization of fuel cells and to reduce the carbon footprint of steam-methane reforming.In collaboration with researchers at the Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research, this project will focus on the development of inexpensive photocatalysts for hydrogen production via a solar-driven water splitting reaction. Hybrid materials composed of silicon nanoparticles and conjugated polymers will be prepared to improve the dispersibility, oxidative stability, and lifetime of the catalyst. Furthermore, by precisely engineering the hybrid material, the amount and spectral span of the solar light absorption and overall hydrogen yield will also be improved. This work will lay the foundation for the development of cost-effective catalysts for "green hydrogen" production. It will combine the polymer expertise of researchers in Germany and silicon nanostructure knowledge in Canada to form a strong network between the two countries with a common goal of reducing carbon emissions.