Photocatalytic CO2 reduction to chemical fuel

The multidisciplinary science lead project with the ultimate goal to develop an efficient and sustainable Artificial Photosynthesis device to respond to environmental crisis arises from high CO2 emission. The ambition of the project is to design and develop a single phase semiconductor photocatalyst based device for efficient conversion of CO2 to suitable valuable chemicals such as methanol. The successful construction of such solar CO2 reduction Artificial Photosynthesis device will redesign and modify our concept related to use of fossil fuel, global warming and environmental pollution. The project aims to emulate natural photosynthesis processing of plants using man-made materials to artificial conversion of CO2 to useful chemical and fuel by artificial photosynthesis also known as photocatalytic CO2 reduction. However, it remains a significant challenge to construct an efficient low cost and scalable artificial photosynthesis/ photocatalytic CO2 reduction device capable of converting CO2 at commercial scale. The proposed project incorporates a radically new strategy to optimize single phase semiconductor photocatalyst materials simultaneously through research led design, nano-architecture controlled fabrication and band structure engineering. The strategy will precisely control the architecture and composition of materials at nanoscale by the means of state-of-the-art wet chemistry material fabrication techniques. Similarly, the study of energy conversion mechanisms, charge carrier dynamics, thermodynamics and catalytic reaction will provide a firm basis to construct a commercially feasible solar CO2 reduction device. The rationale behind this approach is to modify and tune the band structure of semiconductor materials to configure them for thermodynamically favorable spontaneous CO2 reduction. The project team has enormous experience in material design and understanding of solar energy conversion process and enables the proposed project to bring together the benefits of materials design, nanotechnology, electrochemistry, reaction kinetics and device architecture to bear on the problem of solar CO2 reduction. The ground breaking nature of the proposed project, which combines elements of chemistry, nanoscience, electrochemistry and photochemistry is not limited to fabrication of an artificial photosynthesis device for solar CO2 reduction. The material synthesis, characterization and band tuning methods used will open up a new research area in the field of in the field of solar water splitting, photovoltaics, sensors, photocatalysis, photo-responsive switches, thermoelectric devices and field-effect transistors electro-ceramics. This study will be developed with Saudi Arabias strategic industry in mind to ensure that the science is efficiently translated into a viable technological opportunity to control CO2 emission by industry. The programs team has been assembled to ensure that the scientific program will be run only effectively with objectively relevant to the needs of the local industry.