基于三维电极对光电化学电池分解水的性能研究

Light-harvesting efficiency and charge collection efficiency is two important factors for photoelectrochemical cells. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar water splitting represents a clean and sustainable approach for hydrogen (H2) production. In this proposal, we want to demonstrate a strategy to construct well-ordered three-dimensional (3D) photoelectrodes for trapping solar light such as nanowells, nanobowls and nanocones, through combining a nanoimprint technique with an anodization method. After depositing photoactive materials on 3D nanophotonic structures by spray pyrolysis, high performance PEC cells can be achieved because the 3D nanophotonic structures can not only largely improve light absorption, but also provide large surface area to accelerate charge separation. In addition, we also use these structures as templates to construct 3D photoelectrodes, then combine computer simulations to optimize the structures. It is highly desirable to obtain a high performance PEC cell after growing photoactive materials on the 3D conductive substrates. We believe this research would offer a valuable theoretical and experimental reference for future building up high performance PEC cells.

提高太阳光的收集效率和器件中的电荷收集效率是改善光电化学电池性能的两个非常重要的因数。使用太阳能光电化学电池分解水制氢是一个洁净的，可持续的新能源产生方法。本项目结合压印和阳极氧化技术来制备高聚光的氧化铝阵列结构，如纳米阱、纳米碗和纳米锥，之后在其表面用喷雾热解的方法沉积致密的保护层和光活性层薄膜，在实现最大化的太阳光利用率同时，提高电荷分离效果，最终提高光电化学电极的分解水的转换效率。本项目也利用获得的氧化铝为模板来制备其他材料的三维光电化学电极，结合计算机仿真模拟对结构进行优化研究，之后在其上面生长高性能的光活性材料，希望使用所设计的三维电极来获得一个创纪录的光电化学电池，为以后创造更高性能的光电化学电池提供理论基础和实验依据。

使用太阳能驱动光电化学电池分解水制氢是一个洁净且可持续的新能源产生方法。提高太阳光的收集效率和器件的电荷收集效率是改善光电化学电池性能的两个非常重要的因数。本项目提出了利用三维光电极来解决上述难题。本项目合成并利用纳米锥和倒置的纳米椎等三维光电极，之后用化学方法在其表面沉积光活性Fe2O3或BiVO4等。性能测试表明此系列三维光电极不仅能充分利用太阳光利用率，还提高了电荷分离效率，最终提高太阳能分解水的转换效率。此设计为以后创造更高性能的光电化学电池提供理论基础和实验依据。此项目发表论文12篇，授权专利2项。