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Nanostructured photoelectrochemical solar cell for nitrogen reduction using plasmon-enhanced black silicon

Author

Listed:
  • Muataz Ali

    (School of Chemistry, Monash University)

  • Fengling Zhou

    (School of Chemistry, Monash University)

  • Kun Chen

    (School of Chemistry, Monash University)

  • Christopher Kotzur

    (School of Chemistry, Monash University)

  • Changlong Xiao

    (School of Chemistry, Monash University)

  • Laure Bourgeois

    (Monash Centre for Electron Microscopy, Monash University)

  • Xinyi Zhang

    (School of Chemistry, Monash University)

  • Douglas R. MacFarlane

    (School of Chemistry, Monash University)

Abstract

Ammonia (NH3) is one of the most widely produced chemicals worldwide. It has application in the production of many important chemicals, particularly fertilizers. It is also, potentially, an important energy storage intermediate and clean energy carrier. Ammonia production, however, mostly uses fossil fuels and currently accounts for more than 1.6% of global CO2 emissions (0.57 Gt in 2015). Here we describe a solar-driven nanostructured photoelectrochemical cell based on plasmon-enhanced black silicon for the conversion of atmospheric N2 to ammonia producing yields of 13.3 mg m−2 h−1 under 2 suns illumination. The yield increases with pressure; the highest observed in this work was 60 mg m−2 h−1 at 7 atm. In the presence of sulfite as a reactant, the process also offers a direct solar energy route to ammonium sulfate, a fertilizer of economic importance. Although the yields are currently not sufficient for practical application, there is much scope for improvement in the active materials in this cell.

Suggested Citation

  • Muataz Ali & Fengling Zhou & Kun Chen & Christopher Kotzur & Changlong Xiao & Laure Bourgeois & Xinyi Zhang & Douglas R. MacFarlane, 2016. "Nanostructured photoelectrochemical solar cell for nitrogen reduction using plasmon-enhanced black silicon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-5, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms11335
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11335
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    Cited by:

    1. Srivastava, Nitish & Saquib, Mohammad & Rajput, Pramod & Bhosale, Amit C. & Singh, Rhythm & Arora, Pratham, 2023. "Prospects of solar-powered nitrogenous fertilizers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Xiaoping Zhang & Rui Su & Jingling Li & Liping Huang & Wenwen Yang & Konstantin Chingin & Roman Balabin & Jingjing Wang & Xinglei Zhang & Weifeng Zhu & Keke Huang & Shouhua Feng & Huanwen Chen, 2024. "Efficient catalyst-free N2 fixation by water radical cations under ambient conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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