This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to photochemical diodes. In one aspect, a device include a photoanode, a photocathode, and a bipolar membrane between the photoanode and the photocathode. The photoanode comprises a first semiconductor, the first semiconductor being N-type doped, a first catalyst disposed over the first semiconductor, and the photoanode being disposed in an anolyte. The photocathode comprises a second semiconductor, the second semiconductor being P-type doped, a second catalyst disposed over the second semiconductor, and the photocathode being disposed in a catholyte. The photoanode and the photocathode are in electrical contact. A hydrogen reduction reaction or a carbon dioxide reduction reaction occurs at the photocathode and a chemical oxidation reaction occurs at the photoanode when the photocathode and the photoanode are illuminated with light.

This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus related to photochemical diodes. In one aspect, a device include a photoanode, a photocathode, and a bipolar membrane between the photoanode and the photocathode. The photoanode comprises a first semiconductor, the first semiconductor being N-type doped, a first catalyst disposed over the first semiconductor, and the photoanode being disposed in an anolyte. The photocathode comprises a second semiconductor, the second semiconductor being P-type doped, a second catalyst disposed over the second semiconductor, and the photocathode being disposed in a catholyte. The photoanode and the photocathode are in electrical contact. A hydrogen reduction reaction or a carbon dioxide reduction reaction occurs at the photocathode and a chemical oxidation reaction occurs at the photoanode when the photocathode and the photoanode are illuminated with light.

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 present disclosure provides a functional (photovoltaic) PV powered facilitated Water electrolyzer system for solar hydrogen generation having two components: a functional PV panel and a facilitated water electrolyzer. The present invention provides functional PV powered facilitated water electrolyzer (F-PV-WE) systems. The invention provides a process using integrated functional PV with facilitated water electrolysis for multiproduct generation including hydrogen, oxygen and hypochlorite with reduction in energy and environmental footprint.

The present disclosure provides a functional (photovoltaic) PV powered facilitated Water electrolyzer system for solar hydrogen generation having two components: a functional PV panel and a facilitated water electrolyzer. The present invention provides functional PV powered facilitated water electrolyzer (F-PV-WE) systems. The invention provides a process using integrated functional PV with facilitated water electrolysis for multiproduct generation including hydrogen, oxygen and hypochlorite with reduction in energy and environmental footprint.

A method for preparing bismuth oxide nanowire films by heating in an upside down position includes: washing a substrate, and fixing the substrate to a substrate support in a magnetron sputtering system in a position where an electrically conductive surface of the substrate faces downwards; placing a bismuth target, which is adhered to a copper backing plate, on a sputtering head in the magnetron sputtering system; performing direct current magnetron sputtering to form a bismuth film on the electrically conductive surface of the substrate; and regulating a heating temperature to maintain the bismuth film in a semi-molten state, and providing a predetermined oxygen gas concentration to form the bismuth oxide nanowire film.

A method for preparing bismuth oxide nanowire films by heating in an upside down position includes: washing a substrate, and fixing the substrate to a substrate support in a magnetron sputtering system in a position where an electrically conductive surface of the substrate faces downwards; placing a bismuth target, which is adhered to a copper backing plate, on a sputtering head in the magnetron sputtering system; performing direct current magnetron sputtering to form a bismuth film on the electrically conductive surface of the substrate; and regulating a heating temperature to maintain the bismuth film in a semi-molten state, and providing a predetermined oxygen gas concentration to form the bismuth oxide nanowire film.

A photoelectrode includes a double-layer homojunction of metal oxide semiconductor films without heteroatoms incorporated. The metal oxide semiconductor films are uniform in large size with rich oxygen vacancies. For BiVO.sub.4 films, Bi precursor can be electrodeposited on a substrate under atmospheric pressure and air atmosphere. The electrolytes for electrodeposition are acidic or alkaline with controllable pHs. The electrodeposited substrate is transferred to the muffle furnace for thermal evaporation with V precursor. Film thickness and size can be controlled by electrodeposition parameters. The BiVO.sub.4 double-layer homojunction is a safer and cheaper material in photo-driven devices, hydrogen producers, and solar cells, and is an economical replacement of costly III-V compounds, polymers, and valuable fossil. The BiVO.sub.4 double-layer homojunction can also be employed as photoelectrodes for H.sub.2 production via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting under solar light, which can provide pivotal reactor materials for hydrogen producers and solar cells.

A photoelectrode includes a double-layer homojunction of metal oxide semiconductor films without heteroatoms incorporated. The metal oxide semiconductor films are uniform in large size with rich oxygen vacancies. For BiVO.sub.4 films, Bi precursor can be electrodeposited on a substrate under atmospheric pressure and air atmosphere. The electrolytes for electrodeposition are acidic or alkaline with controllable pHs. The electrodeposited substrate is transferred to the muffle furnace for thermal evaporation with V precursor. Film thickness and size can be controlled by electrodeposition parameters. The BiVO.sub.4 double-layer homojunction is a safer and cheaper material in photo-driven devices, hydrogen producers, and solar cells, and is an economical replacement of costly III-V compounds, polymers, and valuable fossil. The BiVO.sub.4 double-layer homojunction can also be employed as photoelectrodes for H.sub.2 production via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting under solar light, which can provide pivotal reactor materials for hydrogen producers and solar cells.