Carbon Nanotube-Based Membrane for Light-Driven, Simultaneous Proton and Electron Transport

Journal Article · Wed Dec 07 00:00:00 EST 2016 · ACS Energy Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.6b00578· OSTI ID:1334624

Pilgrim, Gregory A. ^[1]; Amori, Amanda R. ^[1]; Hou, Zhentao ^[1]; Qiu, Fen ^[1]; Lampa-Pastirk, Sanela ^[2]; Krauss, Todd D.  ^[3]

---

1. Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States)
2. Nazareth College, Rochester, NY (United States)
3. Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, NY (United States); Nazareth College, Rochester, NY (United States)

Here we discuss the photon driven transport of protons and electrons over hundreds of microns through a membrane based on vertically aligned single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). Electrons are photogenerated in colloidal CdSe quantum dots that have been noncovalently attached to the carbon nanotube membrane and can be delivered at potentials capable of reducing earth-abundant molecular catalysts that perform proton reduction. Proton transport is driven by the electron photocurrent and is shown to be faster through the SWNT based membrane than through the commercial polymer Nafion. Furthermore, the potential utility of SWNT membranes for solar water splitting applications is demonstrated through their excellent proton and electron transport properties as well as their ability to interact with other components of water splitting systems, such as small molecule electron acceptors.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Rochester, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
• Grant/Contract Number: SC0002106
• OSTI ID: 1334624
• Journal Information: ACS Energy Letters, Vol. 2, Issue 1; ISSN 2380-8195
• Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY