Publication

Solar reduction of carbon dioxide on copper-tin electrocatalysts with energy conversion efficiency near 20%

Michael Graetzel, Shaik Mohammed Zakeeruddin, Jing Gao, Meng Xia, Yuhang Liu, Dan Ren, Jun Li
2022
Journal Articles

Abstract

Solar-driven carbon dioxide reduction has witnessed a renaissance in the past decades, but the system suffers from low reaction rates. Here the authors develop a copper/tin-oxide electrocatalyst, achieving a new benchmark solar-to-CO energy conversion efficiency in a flow electrolyzer.

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/7162542e-ad5c-43b3-b5ff-aa2a99ee5651

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Michael Graetzel, Shaik Mohammed Zakeeruddin, Jing Gao, Meng Xia, Yuhang Liu, Dan Ren, Jun Li
2022
Journal Articles

Abstract

Official source

https://infoscience.epfl.ch/entities/publication/7162542e-ad5c-43b3-b5ff-aa2a99ee5651

About this result

Related concepts (32)

Copper

Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu (from cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orange color. Copper is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a constituent of various metal alloys, such as sterling silver used in jewelry, cupronickel used to make marine hardware and coins, and constantan used in strain gauges and thermocouples for temperature measurement.

Tin

Tin is a chemical element with the symbol Sn () and atomic number 50. A silvery-coloured metal, tin is soft enough to be cut with little force, and a bar of tin can be bent by hand with little effort. When bent, the so-called "tin cry" can be heard as a result of twinning in tin crystals; this trait is shared by indium, cadmium, zinc, and mercury in its solid state. Pure tin after solidifying presents a mirror-like appearance similar to most metals. In most tin alloys (e.g. pewter) the metal solidifies with a dull grey colour.

Multi-junction solar cell

Multi-junction (MJ) solar cells are solar cells with multiple p–n junctions made of different semiconductor materials. Each material's p-n junction will produce electric current in response to different wavelengths of light. The use of multiple semiconducting materials allows the absorbance of a broader range of wavelengths, improving the cell's sunlight to electrical energy conversion efficiency. Traditional single-junction cells have a maximum theoretical efficiency of 33.16%.

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