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Hybrid bio-photo-electro-chemical cells for solar water splitting

Author

Listed:
  • Roy I. Pinhassi

    (The Nancy & Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP), Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Dan Kallmann

    (The Nancy & Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP), Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Gadiel Saper

    (The Nancy & Stephen Grand Technion Energy Program (GTEP), Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Hen Dotan

    (Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Artyom Linkov

    (Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Asaf Kay

    (Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Varda Liveanu

    (Faculty of Biology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Gadi Schuster

    (Faculty of Biology, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Noam Adir

    (Schulich Faculty of Chemistry, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

  • Avner Rothschild

    (Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Technion City)

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical water splitting uses solar power to decompose water to hydrogen and oxygen. Here we show how the photocatalytic activity of thylakoid membranes leads to overall water splitting in a bio-photo-electro-chemical (BPEC) cell via a simple process. Thylakoids extracted from spinach are introduced into a BPEC cell containing buffer solution with ferricyanide. Upon solar-simulated illumination, water oxidation takes place and electrons are shuttled by the ferri/ferrocyanide redox couple from the thylakoids to a transparent electrode serving as the anode, yielding a photocurrent density of 0.5 mA cm−2. Hydrogen evolution occurs at the cathode at a bias as low as 0.8 V. A tandem cell comprising the BPEC cell and a Si photovoltaic module achieves overall water splitting with solar to hydrogen efficiency of 0.3%. These results demonstrate the promise of combining natural photosynthetic membranes and man-made photovoltaic cells in order to convert solar power into hydrogen fuel.

Suggested Citation

  • Roy I. Pinhassi & Dan Kallmann & Gadiel Saper & Hen Dotan & Artyom Linkov & Asaf Kay & Varda Liveanu & Gadi Schuster & Noam Adir & Avner Rothschild, 2016. "Hybrid bio-photo-electro-chemical cells for solar water splitting," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-10, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12552
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12552
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    Cited by:

    1. Liang, Mengjun & Karthick, Ramalingam & Wei, Qiang & Dai, Jinhong & Jiang, Zhuosheng & Chen, Xuncai & Oo, Than Zaw & Aung, Su Htike & Chen, Fuming, 2022. "The progress and prospect of the solar-driven photoelectrochemical desalination," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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