More efficient thin-film photoelectrodes based on semiconductors
The CO2UPLED project aims to use sunlight as a sustainable energy source to convert water and CO2 into solar fuels through photoelectrochemical processes. Solar fuels, such as hydrogen, are a storable and transportable form of renewable energy. They make it possible to overcome seasonal fluctuations and regional differences in solar radiation and thus ensure a reliable, all-year energy supply. The project is thus responding to the growing demand for alternative, clean energy sources that are not only low in emissions, but can also be accessed flexibly. The CO2UPLED researchers are developing special semiconductor-based thin-film photoelectrodes that are designed to work more efficiently than previous materials. These photoelectrodes are coupled with catalysts to accelerate the chemical reactions required to convert water and CO2 into fuels. The aim is to create cost-effective, scalable and stable systems. The project aims to contribute to the energy transition by closing the gap between intermittent solar energy and continuously available fuels.
Novel, customizable oxynitride-based materials
The project focuses on novel oxynitride-based materials consisting of metal cations, oxygen and nitrogen. By mixing different cations and adjusting the nitrogen-to-oxygen ratio, these materials can be specifically adapted to absorb the energy of sunlight with high efficiency and achieve the optimal properties for hydrogen production and CO2 conversion. The CO2UPLED researchers use statistical methods to optimize synthesis processes and ensure that the materials are produced uniformly and in high quality. An example of the project’s innovative approach is the use of advanced spectroscopic techniques, such as ambient pressure X-ray spectroscopy and time-resolved infrared spectroscopy, to analyze the processes at the interfaces between photoelectrodes and catalysts in detail. These investigations will help to further increase the efficiency of charge separation and transfer, which should lead to better results in the conversion of sunlight into fuels. The entire process will be tested and refined in several steps to ensure that the technologies work under real conditions.
Sustainable fuels from water, CO2 and sunlight
The project is developing efficient and scalable prototypes for solar water splitting and CO2 reduction. The aim is to achieve efficiencies of 20 % for water splitting and 10 % for CO2 reduction. These ambitious milestones have the potential to pave the way for the commercialization of these technologies and thus contribute to sustainable energy production. Researchers at the Technical University of Munich from various disciplines, including materials science, chemistry, physics and engineering, are involved in the project. The division of labor is interdisciplinary: material development, catalyst research and spectroscopy analyses are interlinked. The results of the project are not only of interest to the scientific community, but also to industrial partners who can use the materials and technologies developed to further develop sustainable energy production and turn them into market-ready products.
