Artificial Photosynthesis: An Emerging Technology

Korean scientists aimed to turn artificial photosynthesis technology into reality towards zero carbon emission. Artificial photosynthesis is a technology that imitates natural photosynthesis through received sunlight. It converts carbon dioxide into high-value compounds like ethylene, methanol, and ethanol. 

But the economic and technical limitations have allowed the relevant research progress only the laboratory conditions. This research has been categorized into solar cell research and carbon dioxide conversion research. There are still several hindrances regarding the implementation of artificial photosynthesis technology.

About the Technology

It was reported that the research team headed by Dr. Hyung Suk Ok and Dr. Woong Hee Lee from the Clean Energy Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), is in partnership with Dr. Jae Soo Yoo of Kyung Hee University. The team developed a nanometer-sized branch-shaped tungsten-silver catalyst electrode. It can receive carbon monoxide in high yields from the electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion system. In addition, these can be used for combining the carbon monoxide conversion method with silicon solar cells to accomplish a large-scale artificial photosynthesis system.

Then, the catalyst can be applied to carbon monoxide production that operates by converting carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. The results showed over a 60% increase in carbon monoxide yield than the traditional silver catalyst. It remained stable even after 100 hours of experimentation. Also, the enhanced efficiency and durability of the former from the catalyst perspective were tested using electron microscopy and real-time analysis. The researchers then discovered that the three-dimensional structure of the catalysis and the crystal material of the branch shape contributed to the good results. 

Study Overview

The research team further used the catalyst to produce an artificial photosynthesis technology. The study was done by combining a carbon dioxide conversion system with 120 cm2 commercialized silicon solar cells. This technology demonstrated a high sunlight-to-compound conversion efficiency of 12.1%, making it the highest value reported for all existing artificial photosynthesis systems based on silicon solar. Likewise, the system also successfully converted carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide. In addition, the high-efficiency result of the experiment was shown solely in sunlight in an outdoor environment.

Dr. Hyung Suk Oh of KIST said they came up with a meaningful artificial photosynthesis system. It directly operates through sunlight in natural solar environments using commercially-available silicon solar cells. If the high-efficiency artificial photosynthesis technology is successful, we can reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We can also produce essential chemical compounds manufactured in petrochemical plants through the artificial photosynthesis method, which entails carbon neutrality.

Those interested in the research may read it in the latest issue of Applied Catalysis B: Environmental journal.

About Clean Energy Research Center at the KIST

The  Clean Energy Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology was established to develop fundamental technologies required to produce value-added chemicals using the carbon dioxide process and its associated principles and materials. The Center focused on solar-fuels technology to yield value-added compounds by artificial photosynthesis and biofuels technology. Then they eventually convert them to high-value chemicals and clean fuels. It’s one of the research centers formed under the National Agenda Research Division to contribute to the creation of innovative and green industries in Korea. 

There are 16 doctoral researchers, three master researchers, four technicians, and approximately 90 postdoctoral researchers and graduate students researching the fields mentioned earlier. The Center is divided into the following teams:

• Research Teams
• Supercritical Fluid Research Team
• Green Chemistry Research Team
• Applied Industrial Microbiology Team
• Solar Fuel Team

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