Design principles for efficient photoelectrodes in solar rechargeable redox flow cell applications

Dowon Bae; Gerasimos Kanellos; Richard Faasse; Emil Dražević; Anirudh Venugopal; Wilson Smith

doi:10.1038/s43246-020-0020-7

Design principles for efficient photoelectrodes in solar rechargeable redox flow cell applications

Dowon Bae
, Gerasimos Kanellos
, Richard Faasse
, Emil Dražević
, Anirudh Venugopal
, Wilson Smith

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

28 Citations (Scopus)

79 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Recent advances in photoelectrochemical redox flow cells, such as solar redox flow batteries, have received much attention as an alternative integrated technology for simultaneous conversion and storage of solar energy. Theoretically, it has been reported that even single- photon devices can demonstrate unbiased photo-charging with high solar-to-chemical con- version efficiency; however, the poor redox kinetics of photoelectrodes reported thus far severely limit the photo-charging performance. Here, we report a band alignment design and propose surface coverage control to reduce the charge extraction barrier and create a facile carrier pathway from both n- and p-type photoelectrodes to the electrolyte with the respective redox reaction. Based on these observations, we develop a single-photon photo- charging device with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency over 9.4% for a redox flow cell system. Along with these findings, we provide design principles for simultaneous optimisa- tion, which may lead to enhanced conversion efficiency in the further development of solar- rechargeable redox flow cells.

Original language	English
Article number	17
Number of pages	9
Journal	Communications Materials
Volume	1
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-020-0020-7
Publication status	Published - 2020

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Photoelectrochemical cells
Photoelectrochemistry
Redox flow battery
Device design
Renewable energy (system)
Energy storage
Solar-battery integration, thermal analisys, thermal management, phase change materials.

Access to Document

10.1038/s43246-020-0020-7

Final version (Open Access)Final published version, 1.7 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{5e23529627be4ddfa105c4aa3c6584cb,

title = "Design principles for efficient photoelectrodes in solar rechargeable redox flow cell applications",

abstract = "Recent advances in photoelectrochemical redox flow cells, such as solar redox flow batteries, have received much attention as an alternative integrated technology for simultaneous conversion and storage of solar energy. Theoretically, it has been reported that even single- photon devices can demonstrate unbiased photo-charging with high solar-to-chemical con- version efficiency; however, the poor redox kinetics of photoelectrodes reported thus far severely limit the photo-charging performance. Here, we report a band alignment design and propose surface coverage control to reduce the charge extraction barrier and create a facile carrier pathway from both n- and p-type photoelectrodes to the electrolyte with the respective redox reaction. Based on these observations, we develop a single-photon photo- charging device with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency over 9.4\% for a redox flow cell system. Along with these findings, we provide design principles for simultaneous optimisa- tion, which may lead to enhanced conversion efficiency in the further development of solar- rechargeable redox flow cells.",

keywords = "Photoelectrochemical cells, Photoelectrochemistry, Redox flow battery, Device design, Renewable energy (system), Energy storage, Solar-battery integration, thermal analisys, thermal management, phase change materials.",

author = "Dowon Bae and Gerasimos Kanellos and Richard Faasse and Emil Dra{\v z}evi{\'c} and Anirudh Venugopal and Wilson Smith",

year = "2020",

doi = "10.1038/s43246-020-0020-7",

language = "English",

volume = "1",

journal = "Communications Materials",

issn = "2662-4443",

publisher = "Springer Nature",

number = "1",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Design principles for efficient photoelectrodes in solar rechargeable redox flow cell applications

AU - Bae, Dowon

AU - Kanellos, Gerasimos

AU - Faasse, Richard

AU - Dražević, Emil

AU - Venugopal, Anirudh

AU - Smith, Wilson

PY - 2020

Y1 - 2020

N2 - Recent advances in photoelectrochemical redox flow cells, such as solar redox flow batteries, have received much attention as an alternative integrated technology for simultaneous conversion and storage of solar energy. Theoretically, it has been reported that even single- photon devices can demonstrate unbiased photo-charging with high solar-to-chemical con- version efficiency; however, the poor redox kinetics of photoelectrodes reported thus far severely limit the photo-charging performance. Here, we report a band alignment design and propose surface coverage control to reduce the charge extraction barrier and create a facile carrier pathway from both n- and p-type photoelectrodes to the electrolyte with the respective redox reaction. Based on these observations, we develop a single-photon photo- charging device with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency over 9.4% for a redox flow cell system. Along with these findings, we provide design principles for simultaneous optimisa- tion, which may lead to enhanced conversion efficiency in the further development of solar- rechargeable redox flow cells.

AB - Recent advances in photoelectrochemical redox flow cells, such as solar redox flow batteries, have received much attention as an alternative integrated technology for simultaneous conversion and storage of solar energy. Theoretically, it has been reported that even single- photon devices can demonstrate unbiased photo-charging with high solar-to-chemical con- version efficiency; however, the poor redox kinetics of photoelectrodes reported thus far severely limit the photo-charging performance. Here, we report a band alignment design and propose surface coverage control to reduce the charge extraction barrier and create a facile carrier pathway from both n- and p-type photoelectrodes to the electrolyte with the respective redox reaction. Based on these observations, we develop a single-photon photo- charging device with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency over 9.4% for a redox flow cell system. Along with these findings, we provide design principles for simultaneous optimisa- tion, which may lead to enhanced conversion efficiency in the further development of solar- rechargeable redox flow cells.

KW - Photoelectrochemical cells

KW - Photoelectrochemistry

KW - Redox flow battery

KW - Device design

KW - Renewable energy (system)

KW - Energy storage

KW - Solar-battery integration, thermal analisys, thermal management, phase change materials.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85086001617

U2 - 10.1038/s43246-020-0020-7

DO - 10.1038/s43246-020-0020-7

M3 - Article

SN - 2662-4443

VL - 1

JO - Communications Materials

JF - Communications Materials

IS - 1

M1 - 17

ER -

Design principles for efficient photoelectrodes in solar rechargeable redox flow cell applications

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

LEaDing Fellows

Cite this

Design principles for efficient photoelectrodes in solar rechargeable redox flow cell applications

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

LEaDing Fellows

Cite this