Researchers find better way to 'herd' electrons in solar fuel devices
The finding, published today in Nature Chemistry, could have a big impact on devices that convert sunlight into electricity and fuel.
Researchers have already shown that the efficiency of electron transfer at semi-conductor interfaces depends on the distance the electron has to travel. The new finding shows that the efficiency of the transfer also depends on the type of chemical bonds–or the bridge–that the electron travels through along the way.
“Now we can design molecules to act as a gate and keep electrons moving forward in one direction and not reverse their direction,” says UBC chemist and chemical engineer Curtis Berlinguette, senior author on the paper.
“If electrons go in the wrong direction, we lose much of the sun's energy as heat before it can be converted into electricity or fuel.”
The research also has ramifications in how we view electron transfer in biological systems.
Media Contact
All latest news from the category: Materials Sciences
Materials management deals with the research, development, manufacturing and processing of raw and industrial materials. Key aspects here are biological and medical issues, which play an increasingly important role in this field.
innovations-report offers in-depth articles related to the development and application of materials and the structure and properties of new materials.
Newest articles
Properties of new materials for microchips
… can now be measured well. Reseachers of Delft University of Technology demonstrated measuring performance properties of ultrathin silicon membranes. Making ever smaller and more powerful chips requires new ultrathin…
Floating solar’s potential
… to support sustainable development by addressing climate, water, and energy goals holistically. A new study published this week in Nature Energy raises the potential for floating solar photovoltaics (FPV)…
Skyrmions move at record speeds
… a step towards the computing of the future. An international research team led by scientists from the CNRS1 has discovered that the magnetic nanobubbles2 known as skyrmions can be…