Solar energy conversion via photovoltaics and photocatalysis

Abstract

Due to the forthcoming shortage of natural resources, the demand for more efficient and ecofriendly chemical processes for the conversion of energy and matter, especially with respect to carbon management, is growing rapidly. Therefore, a search for high-performance solar energy conversion systems to end the current carbon economy era is of paramount importance in both academic and industrial sectors. In this regard, we have studied organic photovoltaics and solar water splitting by using oCVD (Oxidative Chemical Vapor Deposition) polymers and doping-treated bismuth vanadate (BiVO 4), respectively. oCVD is a solvent-free conformal vacuum-based technique to enable thin-film fabrication of insoluble polymers at moderate vacuum (~ 0.1 Torr) and low temperature (25 150 °C). Moreover, oCVD carries the well-cited processing benefits of vacuum processing, such as parallel and sequential deposition, well-defined thickness control, large-area uniformity, and inline integration with other standard vacuum processes (e.g., vacuum thermal evaporation). Based on the above-mentioned technical advantages from oCVD, polyselenophene and poly(3,4- dimethoxythiophene) have been successfully applied to organic photovoltaics. Cost-effective solar hydrogen production requires catalytic materials that have earth-abundant element composition, suitable photoelectrochemical properties, and broad technological applicability. To create this versatile catalytic material, controlling the catalyst's atomic structure is of primary importance since their functionalities (e.g., electronic band structure, catalytic activity, chemical stability, etc.) are governed by its atomic structure. According to the strategy, BiVO 4's atomic structure has been engineered via phosphorus, indium and molybdenum doping. The improved photocatalytic behavior of doping-treated BiVO4 has been studied within experimental and computational domains.