Realization of a Photoelectrochemical Cascade for the Generation of Methanol: A Liquid Solar Fuel.

ABSTRACT: Biochemical networks use reaction cascades to selectively reduce CO₂ using energy from sunlight, but can similar selectivity be achieved by applying a cascade approach to an engineered system? Here, we report the design and implementation of a two-step photoelectrochemical (PEC) cascade to a liquid solar fuel: reduction of CO₂ to CO and subsequent reduction of CO to methanol. The potentials required to perform the reductions were generated using custom-made III-V-based three-terminal tandem (3TT) solar cells. Cobalt phthalocyanine immobilized on multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CoPc/MWCNT) catalyzed both reactions. Multiphysics simulations of electrolyte flow and nonilluminated electrochemical measurements were used to narrow the operating parameters for the CoPc/MWCNT 3

SUBMITTER: Chan T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11874017 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature