STEP (Solar Thermal Electrochemical Photo) Generation of Energetic Molecules: A Solar Chemical Process to End Anthropogenic Global Warming
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- 作者：Stuart Licht
- 刊名：Journal of Physical Chemistry C
- 出版年：2009
- 出版时间：September 10, 2009
- 年：2009
- 卷：113
- 期：36
- 页码：16283-16292
- 全文大小：487K
- 年卷期：v.113,no.36(September 10, 2009)
- ISSN：1932-7455
文摘
In this study, a solar hybrid theory is derived for the electrosynthesis of energetic molecules at efficiency greater than that for the solar energy conversion efficiency of photovoltaics. The theory distinguishes radiation that drives photovoltaic charge transfer and applies all excess energy to heat and decrease the energy of endothermic electrolysis reactions. The theory for this original process is derived for the solar generation of energetically rich chemicals, including chlorine, iron, aluminum, magnesium, lithium, and sodium, and to proactively convert anthropogenic CO2 generated in burning fossil fuels. The process directs energy sufficient (super-bandgap) sunlight to drive photovoltaic charge transfer, and all remaining (sub-bandgap and excess super-bandgap energy) sunlight to heat and decrease the energy of an electrolysis reaction. In a 650 °C molten carbonate electrolysis configuration, from the STEP (solar thermal electrochemical photo) conversion theory, sunlight will recycle and remove CO2 at 50% solar efficiency in a cell with 58 mbar CO and 1 bar of CO2.