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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - A-LEAF (An Artificial Leaf: a photo-electro-catalytic cell from earth-abundant materials for sustainable solar production of CO2-based chemicals and fuels)

Teaser

Summary

Mimicking the photosynthetic function of green plants and algae is one of the major technological challenges scientist around the world are facing nowadays. Natural photosynthesis transforms water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) into oxygen and carbohydrates using exclusively the energy of the sun. An artificial photosynthesis scheme will work in an analogous way, absorbing sunlight to combine water and CO2 into oxygen and chemicals, including fuels.
Fuels and fine chemicals are essentially produced from fossil reservoirs, whose retrieval and use have a deleterious impact on the environment. The combustion of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) is causing emissions of large amounts of â€œgreenhouse gasesâ€ (GHGs) to the atmosphere, provoking global warming and affecting climate change.
A-LEAF European consortium seeks the realization of an artificial photosynthesis platform: for the capture and transformation of solar energy into chemical energy, as sustainable substitute for fossil resources.
Our multidisciplinary effort starts from atomic-scale studies to determine experimentally and theoretically the main parameters for optimization of the chemical transformations at surfaces to combine water and CO2 into oxygen and energy-rich chemicals. This knowledge will be transferred and up-scaled into (photo)electrochemical set-ups to maximize performance. The champion components will be combined into a single photoelectrocatalytic(PEC) device: an artificial leaf. Our final aim is to validate our strategy and approach with respect to technological and industrial parameters, to assess the comparative advantages and disadvantages for the incorporation of A-LEAF into an economically viable, and environmentally sustainable energy cycle.

Work performed

During the first 30 months, we have divided our work in five scientific work packages (WP), to understand and identify the basic requirements, optimization strategies, and preferred assembly architecture for our A-LEAF prototype.
WP1 investigated into the surface states of electrocatalysts and their supports via the study of model systems with atomic resolution. The function, stability and doping effects on these materials were determined in situ after electrocatalytic CO2 reduction or water oxidation.
WP2 optimized the electrocatalysts, electrode supports and working conditions to drive the two chemical reactions, water oxidation and CO2 reduction. Faradaic efficiency, minimum overpotential and appropriate current densities matching the photovoltaic parts were common parameters for both reactions. On CO2 reduction, parameters effecting the selectivity towards the different products were also identified.
WP3 gave computational support to define the key parameters limiting charge transfer, electrochemical activity and conversion rates on model and real electrocatalysts. This knowledge allowed improving performance based on basic
WP4 investigated the development of multijunction Si light absorbers to match the working requirements from the electrochemical parts, and the optimum interface to minimize energy loses between light absorption and electrochemical performance in our A-LEAF integrated system.
WP5 was in charge of prototype design. A model electrochemical-only prototype was built to test the electrochemical parts developed through WP1-3 in flow/working conditions, as a platform to understand and optimize their performance. This prototype also allowed to investigate the influence of CO2-gas feed to the selectivity and efficiency of the electroreduction.

Final results

Most of our technical results are still confidential, and subject to our assessment of their proper intellectual property position. At this time, we can publicly highlight the following achievements:
- We have confirmed the excellent geometrical currents achieved in Fe-decorated Ni foam electrodes, reaching > 1 A/cm2 in liquid electrolyte at overpotentials below 350 mV.
- We have developed a novel understanding tool allowing optimization of multicomponent catalysts by applying microfabrication, i.e., the set of techniques used in the fabrication of microchips.
- We have developed electrocatalysts reaching > 75 % selectivity for CO2 to CO electroreduction, with low cell voltage in the range of 5-20 mA/cm2 current densities, and excellent stability.
- We have produced all target catalysts in a practical form and prepared technical electrodes suitable for an electrolyzer configuration.
- We have confirmed the benefit of CO2 gas feed for the selectivity and efficiency of the carbon reduction reaction in the electrolyzer configuration.
In general, we have achieved all this progress exclusively studying abundant and non-critical materials: carbon, silicon, copper, iron, zinc or nickel. Also exclusively employing scalable and industrially-accepted processing methods: thermal treatment at low pressure, adsorption processes, water-based washing and filtering, and non-toxic solvents. Our final objective is to validate our solar to fuels scheme as a viable and alternative energy vector, beyond the scientific and engineering challenge.