Photo-electrochemical Hydrogen Generation Integrated with Photo-chargeable Zinc Ion Battery - PECZIB

Project summary

In this project, novel heterojunction thin film electrode-based photo-electrochemical (PEC) water-splitting devices integrated with photo-chargeable zinc ion batteries (photo-ZIB) will be developed to provide hydrogen (H2) in a clean, sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective way. The bias potential required by the system to be produced is met by photo-ZIB, which can be directly charged by sunlight. Specifically, we propose to make heterojunctions of zinc oxide nanostructure with kesterite type and chalcogenide type semiconductor thin films for highly efficient PEC reactions. Besides compositionally complex ceramics will be used to improve the photo-anodes' stability and catalytic activity. Dark cathodes based on high-entropy ceramics will be obtained to provide a cost-effective alternative to current technology. Thus, it aims to design an innovative device that can be an alternative to the classically used photovoltaic solar cell-electrolyzer systems in terms of cost and efficiency.