High performance chalcogenide processing addressing grand challenges

September 10th, 2023

R&D Focus Areas:
Electrolysis, Photochemical and photocatalytic processes, Advanced manufacturing

Lead Organisation:
The University of Sydney

Partners:
Griffith University
The University of Queensland
Macquarie University
RMIT University
The University of Newcastle

Status:
Active

Start date:
May 2023

Completion date:
May 2024

Key contacts:
Professor Anita Ho-Baillie: anita.ho-baillie@sydney.edu.au

Funding:
AUD$500,000 – Australian Research Council

Project total cost:
AUD$900,000 – combined cash and in-kind contribution

Project summary description:
This project aims to meet the growing need for micro-and nano-scale material processing, device fabrication and characterisation for chalcogenides, 2D transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) and van der Waals heterostructures based on allotropes of S, Se, Te, etc., for addressing the grand challenges of:

  • next generation data processing devices for increasing volume and speed of modern information and communication technologies;
  • high performance photovoltaics and smart windows for renewable energy generation and sustainable living;
  • rational design of photo-catalysts for clean hydrogen generation;
  • ultrasensitive gas sensors for detecting greenhouse gasses, and
  • ultra-violet (UV) sensors for preventing skin cancer.

As a part of addressing these challenges, new processes for clean hydrogen production through the polymerisation, reforming scrap metal, and electrodeposit metal oxides from refining ore other than water splitting has been developed and patented.

A novel solar-driven hydrogen production process is successfully demonstrated by replacing water splitting with a polymerisation reaction where monomer is oxidized to polymer on the anode and protons are reduced to hydrogen gas at the cathode. The process has multiple advantages. As the polymer is a solid product that can be harvested from powder dispersed in the solution or by electro-plating directly onto a surface of interest, the process eliminates the use of expensive ion-exchange membrane or separator. In addition, the polymer is of substantially higher value than oxygen.

Another technical advantage is the much lower applied bias of 1.05 V which is much lower than what is typically required (>1.5V) for traditional water splitting reaction. This also means that single junction solar cell can be used for hydrogen production as demonstrated successfully in this work using a perovskite solar cell. Also, low-cost earth-abundant cobalt phosphide (CoP) catalyst can be used for this process.

Related publications and key links:

  1. Hongjun Chen, et al, Anita W. Y. Ho-Baillie, Solar‐Driven Co‐Production of Hydrogen and Value‐Add Conductive Polyaniline Polymer, Adv. Funct. Mater.2022, 32, 2204807, https:// doi/full/10.1002/adfm.202204807
  1. Hongjun Chen, Anita W. Y. Ho-Baillie, Solar driven production of clean hydrogen, SSRN, https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4478017

Patent Applications:

  1. Solar-driven production of clean hydrogen, University of Sydney Ref. 2021-039, Provisional Patent AU2021903031
  2. Solar-driven co-production of hydrogen, University of Sydney CDIP Ref. 2021-111.
  3. Solar-driven clean hydrogen production, University of Sydney CDIP Ref. 2021-136, Provisional Patent AU 2022900923

Higher degree studies supported:
One higher degree student is supported.

 

September 2023