A Novel Photo-electrochemical Approach for the Chemical Recycling of Carbon Dioxide to Fuels

摘要

In this work we present the opportunity to recycle CO_2 back to liquid fuels, by using a novel PhotoElectroChemical (PEC) approach integrated with the utilization of nanosized materials as (photo)electro-catalysts. Even if the perspective is still a long-term objective, some good advances in this direction already exist. An example is the particular PEC reactor that we have developed for H_2 production by water photoelectrolysis but that can ideally be adapted for gas phase reduction of CO_2 to fuels. The photo-reactor, working like a reverse fuel cell, was realized in a highly compact configuration in order to minimize light scattering phenomena and increase the photoefficiency of the process. Results, obtained separately from experiments with the photoanode (H_2 production by solar light) and the electrocathode (CO_2 reduction by current application), are very promising for a future application in the chemical recycling of CO_2, as a complementary technology to carbon sequestration and storage.