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The 2022 solar fuels roadmap

Journal Article · · Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics
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Abstract

Renewable fuel generation is essential for a low carbon footprint economy. Thus, over the last five decades, a significant effort has been dedicated towards increasing the performance of solar fuels generating devices. Specifically, the solar to hydrogen efficiency of photoelectrochemical cells has progressed steadily towards its fundamental limit, and the faradaic efficiency towards valuable products in CO 2 reduction systems has increased dramatically. However, there are still numerous scientific and engineering challenges that must be overcame in order to turn solar fuels into a viable technology. At the electrode and device level, the conversion efficiency, stability and products selectivity must be increased significantly. Meanwhile, these performance metrics must be maintained when scaling up devices and systems while maintaining an acceptable cost and carbon footprint. This roadmap surveys different aspects of this endeavor: system benchmarking, device scaling, various approaches for photoelectrodes design, materials discovery, and catalysis. Each of the sections in the roadmap focuses on a single topic, discussing the state of the art, the key challenges and advancements required to meet them. The roadmap can be used as a guide for researchers and funding agencies highlighting the most pressing needs of the field.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; SC0021266
OSTI ID:
1873435
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1867932
OSTI ID: 1876863
OSTI ID: 1877604
OSTI ID: 1879419
OSTI ID: 1891715
OSTI ID: 2000441
OSTI ID: 1903353
OSTI ID: 1992677
Journal Information:
Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics, Journal Name: Journal of Physics. D, Applied Physics Journal Issue: 32 Vol. 55; ISSN 0022-3727
Publisher:
IOP PublishingCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English

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