Negative Emissions as the New Frontier of Photoelectrochemical CO₂ Reduction

Abstract

The remaining carbon budgets compatible with limiting global warming to 1.5 or 2 °C above preindustrial levels are shrinking rapidly. An already firmly anticipated, but highly controversial measure to mitigate this challenge is the large‐scale implementation of negative emissions, removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Many of the currently considered negative emission technologies (NET) are based on natural photosynthesis, associated with large land footprints. Photoelectrochemical carbon sinks, on the other hand, promise to combine high conversion efficiencies with versatile storage options. Efficient sink products differ from the products typically considered for solar fuels, which will require novel catalysts and device designs. The development of efficient devices also has to take into account climatic parameters of the local environment as especially the ambient temperature affects device operation. While still in an early stage of development, carbon drawdown by such an artificial photosynthesis approach could be a valuable extension of the portfolio of NET.

Experimental and Computational Aspects of Electrochemical Reflection Anisotropy Spectroscopy: A Review

“…Potential applications are for example electrolyzers, [1] photoelectrochemical (PEC) [2] as well as photocatalytic water splitting, [3] batteries [4] , supercapacitors, [5] and carbon dioxide removal. [6] At the heart of any of such electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems is the electrode/electrolyte interface. Even though this interface is an essential aspect of improving these devices, the physical and chemical processes occurring at electrochemical interfaces still lack fundamental understanding for most systems.…”

Broadband Plasmonic Photocatalysis Enhanced by Photothermal Light Absorbers

“…Since approximately 95% of solar radiation falls within the wavelength range of 0.3 to 2.0 μm, spanning from UV to NIR, it becomes imperative for the material surface to exhibit optimal optical absorption in the visible and near-infrared (IR) spectral range. Some commonly used light absorbers are plasmonic nanoparticles (Au, − Ag, − Pd , ), semiconductors (Cu 2‑x S, , Ti 2 O 3, , Fe 3 O 4 ), carbon-based materials, , and polymers. , While these solar absorbers have been found effective in water desalination and evaporation − and water splitting, , their utilization in gas phase reactions, such as photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, which is crucial for solar-to-fuel conversion and energy storage, remains less explored. , …”

“…19,20 While these solar absorbers have been found effective in water desalination and evaporation 21−24 and water splitting, 25,26 their utilization in gas phase reactions, such as photocatalytic CO 2 reduction, which is crucial for solar-tofuel conversion and energy storage, remains less explored. 27,28 For the traditional photocatalytic reaction, a semiconductor such as TiO 2 has shown to be a good support for gaseous reactions. 29−31 Limited by the poor absorption of photons under visible light and fast recombination rate between generated electron−hole pairs, semiconductors could overcome these disadvantages by adding the metal nanoparticles (NPs) as cocatalysts to improve the catalytic performance.…”

Catalytic enhancement of production of solar thermochemical fuels: opportunities and limitations

“…4 Furthermore, hydrogen is also an essential reagent in the chemical industry, and it can enable CO 2 valorisation to produce fuels and chemicals, providing a potential way to reach neutral or even negative carbon emissions. 5…”