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Presented by Syed Mubeen, Ph.D

Assistant Professor, Chemical & Biochemical Engineering

University of Iowa

Abstract:

Becoming more energy sustainable is a major current societal goal, which, of necessity, involves greater use of sunlight as a primary source of energy. However, if solar energy is ever to displace fossil fuels as our main energy source, it could only do so if we solve the energy storage problem. This talk will first introduce how cost drives materials and system research for solar fuel production. The second portion of the talk will discuss our research efforts to develop novel materials and systems to convert light energy directly into high free energy materials that can be used as fuels and chemicals, thereby storing the solar energy in a high energy density and transportable form. The photoelectrochemical systems were developed utilizing several potential concepts including: (i) semiconductor and/or Schottky junction based nanostructures employing earth abundant elements (e.g. SnS photocathodes; BiVO4/WO3 photoanodes); (ii) low-cost electrochemically manufactured multi-junction cell (e.g. CdTe based multijunction cells) and (iii) oxide encapsulated stable photoelectrochemical nanoreactors. The systems created were able to generate high value oxidation (Cl2 and Br2) and reduction (H2) products sustainably.

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