Grant: Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
University of Alberta
$95,000.00
Development of novel photocatalysts for hydrogen production through solar water splitting processes
EF 2008-09
Résumé
The world faces the crisis of energy shortage. Due to the depletion of fossil fuels and resultant environmental problems from their combustion, there is a high demand of searching for new energy sources that are clean, inexpensive and sustainable. Significant attention has been paid to hydrogen as potentially a next generation of fuels, which is one of the most abundant elements in the earth. However, hydrogen is present in very large amount in combination with oxygen in the form of water (i.e. the ocean) or in combination with carbon and other elements in fossil fuels and innumerable hydrocarbon compounds. At present, most of the world's current supply of hydrogen gas is derived from fossil fuels, which is costly and does not eliminate the emission of Green House Gases that results in the global climate change as well as a large mount of other related pollutants. Therefore, novel technologies for sustainable hydrogen production without generating environmental problems
are highly desired. Water splitting through a solar photocatalytic reaction under solar light has been demonstrated to be a very promising process to generate hydrogen without extra energy consumption (only consumes solar energy) and
environmental problems. During this photocatalytic process, the sun light is used to provide the energy to break the bond between hydrogen and oxygen for hydrogen production. If we can extract hydrogen from water efficiently, then we will have an unlimited reservoir, the ocean, for hydrogen production. The research on water splitting by photo-catalysis was triggered in 1972. However, due to the lack of suitable photocatalytic electrode materials with appropriate band gap structures, efficiency and stability, the development of solar photocatalytic hydrogen production has been in a dilemma. The main objective of this proposed research is to develop high-performance photocatalytic materials with considerably increased efficiency of hydrogen production through the solar photo-chemical process, based on current achievements in this field.
Programme
Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
Bénéficiaire
Emplacement
Alberta, Canada
Type de bénéficiaire
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
Tel que publié
Application id
356957-2007
Name nom
Li, Dongyang
Department département
Chemical and Materials Engineering
Organization id
9
Institution établissement
University of Alberta
Province en
Alberta
Province fr
Alberta
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2008
Competition year année de concours
2007
Award amount
95000
Program id
STPSC
Program nane en
Strategic Projects Supplemental Competition
Program name fr
Projets stratégiques compétition supplémentaire
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
1068
Committee name en
Strategic Projects Selection Panel - Energy 2
Committee name fr
Comité de sélection des projets stratégiques - Énergie 2
Area of application code
1208
Area of application group en
Advancement of knowledge
Area of application group fr
Avancement des connaissances
Area of application en
Materials sciences
Area of application fr
Sciences des matériaux
Research subject code
2000
Research subject group en
Materials science and technology
Research subject group fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Research subject en
Materials science and technology
Research subject fr
Science et technologie des matériaux
Partie
2
Nb partie
2
Application title
Development of novel photocatalysts for hydrogen production through solar water splitting processes
Keyword
NA
Application summary
The world faces the crisis of energy shortage. Due to the depletion of fossil fuels and resultant environmental problems from their combustion, there is a high demand of searching for new energy sources that are clean, inexpensive and sustainable. Significant attention has been paid to hydrogen as potentially a next generation of fuels, which is one of the most abundant elements in the earth. However, hydrogen is present in very large amount in combination with oxygen in the form of water (i.e. the ocean) or in combination with carbon and other elements in fossil fuels and innumerable hydrocarbon compounds. At present, most of the world's current supply of hydrogen gas is derived from fossil fuels, which is costly and does not eliminate the emission of Green House Gases that results in the global climate change as well as a large mount of other related pollutants. Therefore, novel technologies for sustainable hydrogen production without generating environmental problems
are highly desired. Water splitting through a solar photocatalytic reaction under solar light has been demonstrated to be a very promising process to generate hydrogen without extra energy consumption (only consumes solar energy) and
environmental problems. During this photocatalytic process, the sun light is used to provide the energy to break the bond between hydrogen and oxygen for hydrogen production. If we can extract hydrogen from water efficiently, then we will have an unlimited reservoir, the ocean, for hydrogen production. The research on water splitting by photo-catalysis was triggered in 1972. However, due to the lack of suitable photocatalytic electrode materials with appropriate band gap structures, efficiency and stability, the development of solar photocatalytic hydrogen production has been in a dilemma. The main objective of this proposed research is to develop high-performance photocatalytic materials with considerably increased efficiency of hydrogen production through the solar photo-chemical process, based on current achievements in this field.
