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    High‐Temperature Semiconductor CuO/SiC‐Based Catalyst for Artificial Photosynthesis
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    Abstract:
    Abstract Artificial photosynthesis can convert CO 2 and H 2 O into hydrocarbons via solar energy. However, the extremely low process efficiency is a major obstacle to this application. The photocatalyst is considered to be the key factor to raise the overall solar energy conversion efficiency. Much research focused on co‐catalysts, but less attention has been paid on the high‐temperature semiconductor. Herein, a strategy is proposed involving high‐temperature semiconductor to design target photocatalyst dealing with the artificial photosynthesis at high temperature. Based upon this strategy, a CuO/SiC catalyst with single atom characteristic was designed, prepared and the activity of CO 2 photoreduction with H 2 O was tested in a high temperature environment. Above 150 °C, the catalyst activity was boosted and unprecedented performance values were attained. Under the irradiation condition delivered by a 1000 W Xe light and at 350 °C, the obtained yields of CH 4 , C 2 H 4 , and C 2 H 6 were 2041.4 μmol ⋅ g −1 , 15.2 μmol ⋅ g −1 , and 63.6 μmol ⋅ g −1 , respectively. The overall CO 2 conversion reached 24.6 % and the maximum solar energy conversion efficiency was 2.3 % without any sacrificed agents. This strategy will be helpful to overcome the current limitations for the industrialization of artificial photosynthesis and accelerate the related research on photothermal catalysis.
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    Energy transformation
    Chemical energy
    The idea of the critical conversion efficiency is suggested to improve the conversion efficiency of light energy.The critical conversion efficiency is defined as the conversion efficiency of light energy when the hydrogen energy output is equal to the energy input from the outside system.The energy profit cannot be achieved until the conversion efficiency of light energy is greater than the critical value.A system with Na_2S/Na_2SO_3 as sacrificial reagent is analyzed and calculated.The results show that the critical conversion efficiency of light energy reaches 13% when the annual hydrogen production is 20,000 tons.
    Energy transformation
    Light energy
    Citations (1)
    There are many ways in which the energy around us can be stored, converted, and developed for use. Energy exists in two basic types: potential energy, including chemical, elastic, gravitational, and nuclear energies, and kinetic energy, including heat, electrical, and electromagnetic energies. It is often necessary to convert one type of energy to another type or other types of energy. However, human engineering and nature take very different paths to complete such conversion processes. This paper discusses the similarities and dissimilarities of energy conversion processes that are taken by nature and human engineering. One might notice that energy conversion efficiency in biological systems is often higher than what human engineering can offer. As an attempt to mimic nature’s way of energy conversion on the nanoscale, our experiment indicates that nanocatalytic particles can convert chemical energy directly to thermal energy without conventional high-temperature gas-phase combustion and without the traditional ignition process. Furthermore, we have converted chemical energy to thermal energy and thermal energy to electrical energy on semiconductor materials, an achievement that raises the possibility of constructing a new class of nano-thermoelectric power generation systems.
    Energy transformation
    Chemical energy
    Electric potential energy
    Thermal energy
    Mechanical energy
    Citations (1)
    Chemical energy
    Electrochemical energy conversion
    Energy transformation
    Regenerative fuel cell
    Electrochemical cell
    Electric potential energy
    Direct energy conversion
    Artificial photosynthesis is a chemical process that replicates the natural process of photosynthesis, a process that converts sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and oxygen. The term is commonly used to refer to any scheme for capturing and storing the energy from sunlight in the chemical bonds of a fuel (a solar fuel). Photocatalytic water splitting converts water into protons (and eventually hydrogen) and oxygen, and is a main research area in artificial photosynthesis. Light-driven carbon dioxide reduction is another studied process, replicating natural carbon fixation.Research developed in this field encompasses design and assembly of devices (and their components) for the direct production of solar fuels, photoelectrochemistry and its application in fuel cells, and engineering of enzymes and photoautotrophic microorganisms for microbial biofuel and biohydrogen production from sunlight. Many, if not most, of the artificial approaches are bio-inspired, i.e., they rely on biomimetics .Since the 1950s scientists have been developing systems to produce solar fuels using artificial photosynthesis, natural photosynthesis and thermo chemical routes. The term is commonly used to refer to any scheme for capturing and storing the energy from sunlight in the chemical bonds of a fuel (a solar fuel). Photo catalytic water splitting converts water into protons (and eventually hydrogen) and oxygen, and is a main research area in artificial photosynthesis. Light-driven carbon dioxide reduction is another studied process, replicating natural carbon fixation.Research developed in this field encompasses design and assembly of devices (and their components) for the direct production of solar fuels, photo electrochemistry and its application in fuel cells, and engineering of enzymes and photoautotrophic microorganisms for microbial biofuel and biohydrogen production from sunlight. Many, if not most, of the artificial approaches are bio-inspired, i.e., they rely on biomimetics.
    Solar fuel
    Chemical energy
    Carbon fixation
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    Inspired by the autonomously moving organisms in nature, artificially synthesized micro-nano-scale power devices, also called micro-and nanomotors, are proposed. These micro-and nanomotors that can self-propel have been used for biological sensing, environmental remediation, and targeted drug transportation. In this article, we will systematically overview the conversion of chemical energy or other forms of energy in the external environment (such as electrical energy, light energy, magnetic energy, and ultrasound) into kinetic mechanical energy by micro-and nanomotors. The development and progress of these energy conversion mechanisms in the past ten years are reviewed, and the broad application prospects of micro-and nanomotors in energy conversion are provided.
    Energy transformation
    Chemical energy
    Mechanical energy
    Light energy
    Electric potential energy
    Citations (24)
    Article Thermodynamics and kinetics associated with semiconductor-based photoelectrochemical cells for the conversion of light to chemical energy was published on January 1, 1985 in the journal Pure and Applied Chemistry (volume 57, issue 1).
    Chemical energy
    Energy transformation
    Photoelectrochemical cell
    Solar energy conversion
    Photoelectrochemistry
    Light energy
    Citations (26)