A photoelectrochemical cell includes a cathode with a front and back cathode surface, an anode with front and back anode surfaces, a conductive connector between the cathode and the anode, and an optical waveguide configured to direct sunlight to the back surfaces of the cathode and anode. The cathode is adapted for photoelectric generation of electrons at the back cathode surface and electrolytic generation of hydrogen at the front cathode surface. Similarly, the anode is adapted for photoelectric generation of electrons at the back anode surface and electrolytic generation of oxygen at the front anode surface. The photoelectrochemical cell may also include a waveguide optical concentrator coupled to the waveguide.

The invention pertains to a method for efficiently spitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using a nanocomposite that includes ((BiVO.sub.4).sub.x(TiO.sub.2).sub.1-x, wherein x ranges from 0.08 to 0.12, and optionally silver nanoparticles; methods for making a nanocomposite used in this method by a simple solvothermal method; and to photoanodes and photoelectrochemical cells and devices containing the nanocomposites.

A gas phase reduction device for carbon dioxide is a gas phase reduction device for carbon dioxide that exerts a catalytic function by light irradiation to generate oxidation-reduction reaction. The gas phase reduction device includes an oxidation tank in which an aqueous solution is put, a reduction tank to which carbon dioxide is supplied, a semiconductor photoelectrode installed in the aqueous solution, and a porous electrode-supported electrolyte membrane that is a joint body of an electrolyte membrane and a porous reduction electrode, the porous electrode-supported electrolyte membrane being installed between the oxidation tank and the reduction tank with the electrolyte membrane facing the oxidation tank and the porous reduction electrode facing the reduction tank. Voltage between a reference electrode installed in the aqueous solution and a reference electrode installed in contact with the electrolyte membrane is measured by a voltmeter, and a control unit increases voltage between the semiconductor photoelectrode and the porous reduction electrode in accordance with change in voltage between the reference electrodes from an initial value at start of reaction. The control unit includes a solar cell and a constant voltage power supply, and the solar cell is arranged on an extension line of a straight line from a light source toward the semiconductor photoelectrode, and generates power utilizing light emitted to and transmitted through the semiconductor photoelectrode.

A gas phase reduction device for carbon dioxide is a gas phase reduction device for carbon dioxide that exerts a catalytic function by light irradiation to generate oxidation-reduction reaction. The gas phase reduction device includes an oxidation tank in which an aqueous solution is put, a reduction tank to which carbon dioxide is supplied, a semiconductor photoelectrode installed in the aqueous solution, and a porous electrode-supported electrolyte membrane that is a joint body of an electrolyte membrane and a porous reduction electrode, the porous electrode-supported electrolyte membrane being installed between the oxidation tank and the reduction tank with the electrolyte membrane facing the oxidation tank and the porous reduction electrode facing the reduction tank. Voltage between a reference electrode installed in the aqueous solution and a reference electrode installed in contact with the electrolyte membrane is measured by a voltmeter, and a control unit increases voltage between the semiconductor photoelectrode and the porous reduction electrode in accordance with change in voltage between the reference electrodes from an initial value at start of reaction. The control unit includes a solar cell and a constant voltage power supply, and the solar cell is arranged on an extension line of a straight line from a light source toward the semiconductor photoelectrode, and generates power utilizing light emitted to and transmitted through the semiconductor photoelectrode.

A post-ALD in-situ water treatment procedure is used to remove the ligand residues in amorphous TiO.sub.2 films coated on photoanode material to improve the film stoichiometry without introducing any additional crystallization. The processed amorphous TiO.sub.2 film showed drastically improved chemical stability, and thereby substantially elongated the lifetime of silicon-based photoanodes in alkaline electrolyte.

A post-ALD in-situ water treatment procedure is used to remove the ligand residues in amorphous TiO.sub.2 films coated on photoanode material to improve the film stoichiometry without introducing any additional crystallization. The processed amorphous TiO.sub.2 film showed drastically improved chemical stability, and thereby substantially elongated the lifetime of silicon-based photoanodes in alkaline electrolyte.

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a synthetic fuel creation system. The synthetic fuel creation system includes a syngas creation station to create syngas, a crude creation station to create heavy syncrude, and a crude cracking station to convert the heavy syncrude into synthetic fuel. The synthetic fuel creation system can use an electrocatalysis system to create the syngas and the electrocatalysis system can include an anode, a cathode, oxygen evolution reaction catalysts, hydrogen/carbon monoxide evolution reaction catalysts, and an electrolyte, where a pH of the electrolyte is acidic during at least a portion of creation of the syngas.

Particular embodiments described herein provide for a synthetic fuel creation system. The synthetic fuel creation system includes a syngas creation station to create syngas, a crude creation station to create heavy syncrude, and a crude cracking station to convert the heavy syncrude into synthetic fuel. The synthetic fuel creation system can use an electrocatalysis system to create the syngas and the electrocatalysis system can include an anode, a cathode, oxygen evolution reaction catalysts, hydrogen/carbon monoxide evolution reaction catalysts, and an electrolyte, where a pH of the electrolyte is acidic during at least a portion of creation of the syngas.

The disclosure discloses a preparation method and application of a non-noble metal single atom catalyst, and belongs to the technical fields of chemistry, chemical engineering and material science. According to the disclosure, cheap raw materials and simple method are used to prepare the single atom catalyst. In essence, metal is anchored on light-absorbing carrier in a single atom form under irradiation to produce the single atom catalyst. In the disclosure, the non-noble metal single atom catalyst is prepared by using a photochemical synthetic route for the first time. The single atom catalyst synthesized in the disclosure is dispersed on the surface of photoactive substance. Using nickel single atom as a co-catalyst in photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen, the cost is low and the catalytic efficiency is greatly improved compared with other types of non-noble metal modified composite photocatalysts.

The disclosure discloses a preparation method and application of a non-noble metal single atom catalyst, and belongs to the technical fields of chemistry, chemical engineering and material science. According to the disclosure, cheap raw materials and simple method are used to prepare the single atom catalyst. In essence, metal is anchored on light-absorbing carrier in a single atom form under irradiation to produce the single atom catalyst. In the disclosure, the non-noble metal single atom catalyst is prepared by using a photochemical synthetic route for the first time. The single atom catalyst synthesized in the disclosure is dispersed on the surface of photoactive substance. Using nickel single atom as a co-catalyst in photocatalytic water splitting to produce hydrogen, the cost is low and the catalytic efficiency is greatly improved compared with other types of non-noble metal modified composite photocatalysts.