Abstract:
A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
Abstract:
A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
Abstract:
The disclosure provides conductive membranes for water splitting and solar fuel generation. The membranes comprise an embedded semiconductive/photoactive material and an oxygen or hydrogen evolution catalyst. Also provided are chassis and cassettes containing the membranes for use in fuel generation.
Abstract:
A method of aligning microwires includes modifying the microwires so they are more responsive to a magnetic field. The method also includes using a magnetic field so as to magnetically align the microwires. The method can further include capturing the microwires in a solid support structure that retains the longitudinal alignment of the microwires when the magnetic field is not applied to the microwires.
Abstract:
The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.
Abstract:
A photoelectrode, methods of making and using, including systems for water-splitting are provided. The photoelectrode can be a semiconducting material having a photocatalyst such as nickel or nickel-molybdenum coated on the material. The photoelectrode includes an elongated axially integrated wire having at least two different wire compositions.
Abstract:
A solar fuels generator includes an anolyte and a catholyte in contact with a separator. The separator is configured such that the pH of the anolyte and the pH of the catholyte are each held at a steady state pH level during operation of the solar fuels generator. The steady state pH level of the anolyte is different from the steady state pH level of the catholyte.
Abstract:
Increasing the power conversion efficiency of silicon (Si) photovoltaics is a key enabler for continued reductions in the cost of solar electricity. Disclosed herein is a multi-junction photovoltaic cell that does not utilize a conventional interconnection layer and instead places a wide bandgap oxide conductor, for example, a metal oxide such as TiO2, between a top light absorption layer having a relatively large bandgap and a bottom light absorption layer having a relatively small bandgap. The advantageous omission of a conventional interconnection layer between the two subcells is enabled by low contact resistivity between the top and bottom light absorbing layers provided by the wide bandgap oxide conductor. The absence of the conventional interconnect between the subcells significantly reduces both optical losses and processing steps. The disclosed photovoltaic cell may thus enable low-cost, high-efficiency multi-junction devices through less complex manufacturing processes and lower material costs.
Abstract:
The solar fuels generator includes an ionically conductive separator between a gaseous first phase and a second phase. A photoanode uses one or more components of the first phase to generate cations during operation of the solar fuels generator. A cation conduit is positioned provides a pathway along which the cations travel from the photoanode to the separator. The separator conducts the cations. A second solid cation conduit conducts the cations from the separator to a photocathode.