Solar photochemical–thermal water splitting at 140 °C with Cu-loaded TiO2. Issue 2 (2nd February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Docao, Son; Koirala, Agni Raj; Kim, Min Gyu; Hwang, In Chul; Song, Mee Kyung; Yoon, Kyung Byung
• Is Part Of: Energy & environmental science. Volume 10:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 628
• Page End: 640
• Publication Date: 2017-02-02
• Subjects: Energy conversion -- Periodicals; Fuel switching -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1039/c6ee02974d
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-5692

Abstract

Abstract : Metal oxide based solar photochemical–thermal water splitting is a new promising approach to convert solar energy to chemical energy. Abstract : Metal oxide based solar thermal water splitting is a promising approach for using solar energy to produce H2 and O2 . The normal protocol employed for this process involves thermal reduction of a metal oxide (MO x ) at around 1500 °C to produce the reduced form of the metal oxide (MO x − δ ) and O2 . This step is followed by steam treatment of MO x − δ at around 1000 °C to yield MO x and H2 . Owing to the need to use high temperatures, the traditional approach has several important drawbacks. In a study designed to improve this process, we found that Cu-loaded TiO2 (Cu/TiO2 ) effectively expels O2 upon irradiation with AM 1.5 1 Sun solar simulated light and that treatment of the reduced form of the reduction product Cu/TiO2− δ with steam at 140 °C generates H2 . This new approach, termed as solar photochemical–thermal water splitting, has the potential to become an important method for converting solar energy into chemical energy.