A monolithic and standalone solar-fuel device having comparable efficiency to photosynthesis in nature

Hyo Sang Jeon, Jai Hyun Koh, Se Jin Park, Michael Shincheon Jee, Doo Hyun Ko, Yun Jeong Hwang, Byoung Koun Min

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The need for developing sustainable energy sources has generated academic and industrial attention in artificial photosynthesis, inspired by the natural process. In this study, we demonstrate a highly efficient solar energy to fuel conversion device using CO2 and water as feedstock. We developed a thin film photovoltaic technology for the light absorbing component using a low cost, solution based Cu(InxGa1-x)(SySe1-y)2 (CIGS) module fabrication method to provide sufficient potential for the conversion reactions. Our solar-fuel device uses cobalt oxide (Co3O4) nanoparticle thin film deposited with a low temperature coating method as the water oxidation catalyst and nanostructured gold film as the CO2 reduction to CO generation catalyst. We demonstrated that the integrated monolithic device operated by energy only from sunlight, in an absence of any external energy input. The individual components showed the following abilities: solar-to-power conversion efficiency of 8.58% for the CIGS photovoltaic module photoelectrode, overpotential reduction of water oxidation with the Co3O4 catalyst film by ∼360 mV at 5 mA cm-2, and Faradaic efficiency of over 90% by the nanostructured Au catalyst for CO2 reduction to CO. Remarkably, this is the first demonstration of a monolithic and standalone solar-fuel device whose solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency from CO2 and H2O is 4.23%, which is comparable with that of photosynthesis in nature.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5835-5842
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume3
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2015 Mar 21

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • General Materials Science

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