Note to ElisabethThe artificial leaf works the same functional way as a real leaf. Importantly the membrane is “buried” and end-capped with cofactors (catalysis) to do water splitting.

The same is true for the artificial leaf.

Photosynthesis

H2O

O2(4H+ + 4e–)NADH “Natures H2”

⊕⊖

sun + waterenergizedwireless current

solar fuel O2H2

⊕⊖

Natural Leaf Artificial LeafH2O

Note to ElisabethA stand alone device had never been made (despite claims by others – who are always trying to shoot down the artificial leaf)

The naysaryers point to the paper in the next slide. But the concept is shown at the beginning of the paper only as a schematic. It was never achieved for the reasons listed in red. I even highlighted the text where it syas that they could not make a stand alone device)

Artificial Leaf Challenges

• Need conc base for catalyst, but Si corrodes in conc base• But Si dies in conc base• Thus need to externally wire anode to Si triple junction, above device not achieved

OER Catalyst

HER Catalyst

Oxygen catalystSilicon

Protective layer ITOSi

Hydrogen catalyst

Note to ElisabethThe following device works because the system operates simply in water (not concentrated base or acid). This is because the water splitting catalysts are able to operate out of water without corroding.

They actually break down but the real invention is that they self-heal. This we can work in water and make the stand alone artificial leaf.

Co-OEC

NiMoZnHER catalyst

OER catalyst

400 500 600 700 800 900 1000Wavelength / nm

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1.0

Qua

ntum

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ffic

ienc

y top

total

middlebottom

An Artificial Leaf That Works

• commercial solar cell, Xunlight• cell voltage high enough for OER• 4.7% efficient (6.7% solar cell)• higher efficiencies possible, simply use higher efficiency PV

Note to ElisabethThe “buried” junction is different than a regular PEC for the following reasons. Importantly the band gap does not need to span the chemical potential (because the PV is buried between conductors)

Also, like in a leaf, the catalysis (cofactors in a leaf) is separated from the charge separating network (membrane in a leaf, PV in the buried junction).

PECS had been worked on for almost 50 years, and they were never able to perform water splitting at high efficiency. The new system works, and it is because it is fundamentally a different PV.

OEC

p-SC and OER

membrane

electrolyte

p-n PEC(PV electrochemical load)n-SC and HER

electrolyte

Traditional PEC Deviates from Principles of PhotosynthesisCatalyst and light harvester are one an the same:

Because chemistry is in direct contact with chemistry flatband potential must straddle the thermodynamic Likelihood of making a good solar absorber that at the same time can manage the complicated and intricate 4e–/4H+ chemistry of water splitting is miniscule

Note to ElisabethBecause the artificial leaf is simply layers, like a hamburger, it opens the door to high throughput manufacturing. We are now involved with producing the leaf by CVD methods. This will allow us to simply coat glass on a production line.

Clas can be processed at ~5000 – 10000 metrs per hour. We are seeking to “spray coat” the galss on the line with the layers needed for the artificial leaf. We are working that chemistry out now.

Co-OEC

NiMoZnHER catalyst

OER catalyst

An Artificial Leaf = Fast Food Energy

• no wires, no membrane• works in any water• simple engineering

• simple engineering• just layers• like a hamburger

Top bun

Cheese

Bottom bun

Hamburger

Roll-to-Roll Processing

reaction

adsorption

precursor A precursor Bexhaust

desorption

PV filmgrowth

CVD – high thru-putmanufacturing (1000 m/hr):

automotive glassall e-glass displays

Corning Willow (flexible) Glass

Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD)

Professor Roy GordonHarvard

Note to ElisabethThe real advantage of the artificial leaf is you can let H2 bubble out of the water, collect it, and then use it.

Remember the thermodynamics of H2 to CO2 for almost any fuel is downhill. This it is a “dark” reaction. You only need light to make H2.

So I do not believe in direct solar to liquid fuels. With the artificial leaf, you can collect the H2 in another container and then do liquid fuels production.

Alternative Strategy to Traditional PEC ApproachN2CO2

“stuff” Use photomaterial for what is needed … independent of subsequent (photo)catalytic transformation

As in photosynthesis, decouple thermodynamics of water splitting (uphill) from subsequent catalytic chemistry (thermoneutral)H2

H2O

Allows photomaterial to be decoupled from challenging multi-PCET catalysis needed for solar fuels generation Engages expertise of a wider community (e.g., organic, organometallic chemists) in the energy problem

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