Reduction of CO/sub 2/ to methanol and methane by photo and dark reactions on semiconductor electrodes. Annual report, February 15, 1984-February 15, 1985
This report investigates the electrochemical mechanism of reduction of CO/sub 2/ or carbonate species to useful fuels using semiconductor and metal electrodes. The semiconductor electrodes may be used to convert light and CO/sub 2/ into fuels such as methanol and methane. Metal electrodes could be coupled to photovoltaic arrays for solar energy storage via fuel generation. Carbon dioxide is an abundant raw material that may be used as a source of inorganic carbon. By suitable electrochemical processes this inorganic carbon may be converted to organic carbon in the form of methanol and methane, which could be used as fuel. Such electrochemical conversions can be made to occur at semiconductor electrodes. In addition, semiconductor electrodes absorb light, and this light can be converted to a voltage that causes the electrochemical transformations of interest. By combining the CO/sub 2/, water, semiconductor, and sunlight, the authors can store solar energy in the fuel. The end result is a method to upgrade the products of ordinary combustion, namely CO/sub 2/ and H/sub 2/O, by returning them to useful fuels. This research program consists of a study of the electrochemical and solid state aspects of the conversion of CO/sub 2/ to fuels at semiconductor and metal electrodes.
- Research Organization:
- SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5100130
- Report Number(s):
- PB-85-226298/XAB
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
14 SOLAR ENERGY
37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
CARBON DIOXIDE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
METHANE
CHEMICAL PREPARATION
METHANOL
CARBONATES
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ENERGY STORAGE
FARADAY EFFECT
FUELS
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
METALS
MOLYBDENUM
RUTHENIUM
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
SOLAR ENERGY
ALCOHOLS
ALKANES
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMISTRY
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LYSIS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM METALS
PNICTIDES
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
STORAGE
SYNTHESIS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
090221 - Alcohol Fuels- Chemical Synthesis- (1976-1989)
140505 - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)
400500 - Photochemistry