Proposed are a photoelectrochemical cell for producing hydrogen peroxide, a method of fabricating the same, and a method of producing hydrogen peroxide using the photoelectrochemical cell. The photoelectrochemical cell includes a photoanode including a photocatalyst, a cathode, and a solid polymer electrolyte layer disposed between the photoanode and the cathode and including a solid polymer electrolyte. The photoelectrochemical cell is for use in the production of hydrogen peroxide, and can produce hydrogen peroxide with electric energy generated from solar energy without requiring the supply of external electric energy.

Provided are a semiconductor material based on metal nanowires and a porous nitride, and a preparation method thereof. The semiconductor material includes: a substrate; a buffer layer formed on the substrate; and a composite material layer formed on the buffer layer the composite material layer includes: a transverse porous nitride template layer; and a plurality of metal nanowires filled in pores of the transverse porous nitride template layer.

A synthesis gas production system for producing CO and H.sub.2 by electrolyzing an aqueous solution containing CO.sub.2 includes: an electrolysis device including an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by a separator membrane; a cathode-side circulation line connected to the cathode chamber to circulate a cathode solution containing CO.sub.2; a catalyst supply device provided in the cathode-side circulation line to supply a CO production catalyst to the cathode solution; and a gas composition detection device configured to measure a ratio between CO and H.sub.2 in a production gas produced in the cathode chamber. At least one of control of a supply amount of the CO production catalyst by the catalyst supply device and control of a voltage applied between the anode and the cathode by the electrolysis device is performed to make a ratio of H.sub.2 to CO in the production gas be within a predetermined target range.

A synthesis gas production system for producing CO and H.sub.2 by electrolyzing an aqueous solution containing CO.sub.2 includes: an electrolysis device including an anode chamber and a cathode chamber separated by a separator membrane; a cathode-side circulation line connected to the cathode chamber to circulate a cathode solution containing CO.sub.2; a catalyst supply device provided in the cathode-side circulation line to supply a CO production catalyst to the cathode solution; and a gas composition detection device configured to measure a ratio between CO and H.sub.2 in a production gas produced in the cathode chamber. At least one of control of a supply amount of the CO production catalyst by the catalyst supply device and control of a voltage applied between the anode and the cathode by the electrolysis device is performed to make a ratio of H.sub.2 to CO in the production gas be within a predetermined target range.

Described herein are devices and methods utilizing cascade photocatalysis to drive multiple chemical reactions via a series of photoelectrochemical catalysts driven by the conversion of light into current by one or more photovoltaic devices. The described devices and methods are tunable and may be used in conjunction with different reactants and products, including the conversion of carbon dioxide into valuable hydrocarbon products.

Photoelectrochemical cells for the oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran are provided. Also provided are methods of using the cells to carry out the electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxidation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural to 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid and/or 2,5-diformylfuran.

The present invention is to provide a photocatalyst electrode less likely to suffer from peeling of hematite-based crystal particles from a substrate and having higher catalytic activity than ever before. A method for producing a photocatalyst electrode includes: an in-process particle of heating a raw material solution to form in-process particles, the raw material solution including a raw material solvent and a hematite raw material dispersed therein, the in-process particle forming step including heating the raw material solution in a closed vessel for more than 12 hours; and a burning step of burning the in-process particles. In this way, a photocatalyst electrode with high catalytic activity can be produced.

The present invention is to provide a photocatalyst electrode less likely to suffer from peeling of hematite-based crystal particles from a substrate and having higher catalytic activity than ever before. A method for producing a photocatalyst electrode includes: an in-process particle of heating a raw material solution to form in-process particles, the raw material solution including a raw material solvent and a hematite raw material dispersed therein, the in-process particle forming step including heating the raw material solution in a closed vessel for more than 12 hours; and a burning step of burning the in-process particles. In this way, a photocatalyst electrode with high catalytic activity can be produced.

One or more novel processes for producing hydrogen, oxygen, and in some cases, distilled and cleaned water from a contaminated effluent, are disclosed. In one example of utilizing this novel process, the water from contaminated effluent is transferred into a draw solution using an entrochemical system through a vapor-mediated membrane-free forward osmosis process. The process is enabled by the generation of a wet vacuum in one or more entrochemical cells incorporated into the entrochemical system. This process generates a diluted draw solution that can be utilized as an abundant water feedstock in an electrolyzer for electrolysis, which in turn generates hydrogen and oxygen. In some embodiments, an entrochemical distiller may also be utilized to distill a portion of the contaminated effluent for clean water as a result of thermal transfers during the vapor-mediated membrane-free forward osmosis process.

An improved photosensitizer for a photocathode comprises an oligomeric or polymeric chromphore absorbing, as an ensemble, light at (a) wavelengths at or greater than 420 nm that includes at least 3 identical or different suitable monomeric chromophore units carrying at least two substituents each comprising at least one alkylene, alkenylene and/or alkynylene chain having a chain length of at least 3 carbon atoms, those substituents being terminated by thiol groups, wherein the oligomeric or polymeric chromphore has a disulfide bond between each of the chromophores. A photocathode comprising the photosensitzer is useful for the reduction of water-soluble chemicals in oxidized forms, including protons, with the aid of visible light in a system comprising the photocathode and a photoanode or any other anode or source of electrons. A method for reducing chemicals soluble in aqueous media in oxidized forms, including protons, in aqueous solutions by means of the photocathode is also disclosed.