Seminar

Date 2017-11-21 

■ Title:  Photoelectrochemical artificial photosynthesis


■ Speaker: Dr. Byoung Koun Min (Clean Energy Research Center, KIST)  

 

■ Date and time: 21st of November, (Tue) 16:00

 

■ Venue: Applied Engineering Dpt. Bd W1 Multimedia Lecture Hall (1st Floor)

 

 Host : Prof. Cho, EunAe

  

 Abstract :   

 

Solar-chemical production inspired from nature has attracted substantial attention due to a need for developing sustainable future energy as well as chemical resources. In this study, we demonstrate a highly efficient solar energy to chemical conversion device using CO2 and water as feedstock. For the realization of this architecture 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) fabrication method to provide high enough potential for the conversion reactions. Our solar-chemical conversion device adapted self-generated high surface area and degradation-resistive stainless steel as the water oxidation catalyst and nanostructured metal films as the CO2 reduction to CO generation catalyst. 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 over 4%, which is comparable to that of photosynthesis in nature. The details of the synthetic method and characterization of each component and the solar-fuel generation system will be discussed in the presentation.