Powering the next industrial revolution: transitioning from nonrenewable energy to solar fuels via CO2 reduction.

Rami J Batrice,John C Gordon

doi:10.1039/d0ra07790a

Abstract

Solar energy has been used for decades for the direct production of electricity in various industries and devices; however, harnessing and storing this energy in the form of chemical bonds has emerged as a promising alternative to fossil fuel combustion. The common feedstocks for producing such solar fuels are carbon dioxide and water, yet only the photoconversion of carbon dioxide presents the opportunity to generate liquid fuels capable of integrating into our existing infrastructure, while simultaneously removing atmospheric greenhouse gas pollution. This review presents recent advances in photochemical solar fuel production technology. Although efforts in this field have created an incredible number of methods to convert carbon dioxide into gaseous and liquid fuels, these can generally be classified under one of four categories based on how incident sunlight is utilised: solar concentration for thermoconversion (Category 1), transformation toward electroconversion (Category 2), natural photosynthesis for bioconversion (Category 3), and artificial photosynthesis for direct photoconversion (Category 4). Select examples of developments within each of these categories is presented, showing the state-of-the-art in the use of carbon dioxide as a suitable feedstock for solar fuel production.

Highlights

In the more than 300 000 years of human existence,[1] no time period has been characterised by more rapid growth and technological advancement than the Industrial Revolution which began in the 18th century
The second, and more substantial problem of this observed population growth and associated energy consumption is the proliferation of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), etc.) in the environment and the resulting global climate change
CO2 poses the greatest threat, as it is by far the major greenhouse gas produced from fossil fuel combustion contributing to climate change, and due to its persistence within the atmosphere.[6,7]

Summary

Introduction

In the more than 300 000 years of human existence,[1] no time period has been characterised by more rapid growth and technological advancement than the Industrial Revolution which began in the 18th century. An initial concern is based upon the fact that creating and using these carbon derived energy sources would result in additional release of CO2 upon combustion, such an assumption fails to consider that the model for implementation of these technologies necessitates consumption of CO2 as a feedstock, making these carbon–neutral fuels (i.e. generated CO2 is recycled to create more solar fuels).[32] Despite this eld of study having started in earnest merely a decade ago, extensive research has produced impressive results toward realizing this goal and mitigating the growing climate crisis.[23,33,34,35,36] In assessing the feasible use of various solar fuel technologies, several studies have been conducted to determine factors such as system efficiencies or shipping/ transportation costs.[37,38] this review will focus on recent advances in the photochemical conversion of CO2 using natural or simulated solar radiation as the light source. The quantum efficiencies (F) for the catalytic Sabatier reactions were calculated according to the following relationship (eqn (3)): FCH4ð%Þ 1⁄4

Â mol of CH4 formed

Findings

11 State of the Climate