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High-Efficiency Solar-Driven Membrane Electrode Electrolysis and CO2 Electrochemical Reduction at Industrial Current Densities

Professor Introduction

Y. X | Ph.D. in Chemistry

Home Institute：Hanyang University, Korea

[ Research Interests ] New energy, hydrogen energy and carbon neutrality, including semiconductor solar cell materials and their applications, system-level analysis of solar energy conversion in different systems, development and scale-up of new alkaline water electrolysis systems, and capture and fixation of carbon dioxide using electrochemical methods; proficient in magnetron sputtering, vacuum thermal coating, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, XRD, XPS and other material preparation, characterization equipment and technical means
[ Additional Experience ]Associate Researcher at a Double First-Class University in China
[ Publications ] Published more than 17 high-level journal papers, 7 international conference papers, and has 6 invention patents

Project Description

As the global energy structure increasingly shifts towards low-carbon emission power generation forms such as solar and wind energy, the issue of large-scale storage of intermittent energy becomes more prominent. Utilizing low-carbon energy to drive the electrochemical reduction of CO2 to produce carbon-containing energy carriers not only aids in carbon-based energy transformation and emission reduction but also enables large-scale storage of intermittent low-carbon electricity. This approach presents a crucial strategy to address the core challenges of carbon-based energy transformation and utilization.

The project aims to develop a membrane electrode electrocatalytic system capable of achieving low overpotential, high selectivity, and high stability at industrial current densities. This system will be integrated with a photovoltaic system to construct a photovoltaic-electrolyzer hybrid system. The hybrid system will efficiently drive water electrolysis to produce hydrogen and electrochemical reduction of CO2 to produce CO and other high-reduction-factor products using low-carbon energy. The project will explore efficient integration methods of photovoltaic systems and electrochemical systems to achieve high-efficiency solar hydrogen production and conversion of inexpensive CO2.

Project Keywords

Industrial Current
Solar Energy
Low-Carbon Energy

Project Outline

Part 1 :   Introduction
• Background on global energy structure transformation
• Issues with intermittent solar and wind energy
• Significance of using low-carbon energy for CO2 electrochemical reduction


Part 2 : Theoretical Foundation and Technical Background
• Electrolysis and CO2 electrochemical reduction at industrial current densities
• Design and optimization of membrane electrode electrocatalytic systems
• Principles of integrating photovoltaic and electrolyzer systems


Part 3 :   Experimental Methods and Technical Approach
• Development of membrane electrode electrocatalytic systems
• Construction of photovoltaic-electrolyzer hybrid systems
• Testing for low overpotential, high selectivity, and high stability

Part 4: Data Analysis and Results Discussion
• Kinetic analysis and mechanism study
• System efficiency and stability analysis
• Synergistic effects between photovoltaic and electrochemical systems


Part 5 : Application Prospects and Optimization Strategies
• Industrial application prospects
• System optimization and improvement strategies
• Future research directions and challenges

Suitable for

• High School Students: Interested in new energy and chemical engineering, preparing for competitions or further studies.
• Undergraduate Students：Majoring in chemistry, materials science, new energy, and looking to dive deeper into research and practice.