10.1021/es302651q.s001
Quanpeng Chen
Quanpeng
Chen
Jinhua Li
Jinhua
Li
Xuejin Li
Xuejin
Li
Ke Huang
Ke
Huang
Baoxue Zhou
Baoxue
Zhou
Weimin Cai
Weimin
Cai
Wenfeng Shangguan
Wenfeng
Shangguan
Visible-Light Responsive
Photocatalytic Fuel Cell Based on WO<sub>3</sub>/W Photoanode and
Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu Photocathode for Simultaneous Wastewater Treatment
and Electricity Generation
American Chemical Society
2012
WO
5 h operation
Simultaneous Wastewater Treatment
electron
compound
photocatalytic fuel cell
PFC system
Cu 2O Photocathode
Cu 2O photocathode
photoanode
VNHE
electricity generation
2012-10-16 00:00:00
Journal contribution
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Visible_Light_Responsive_Photocatalytic_Fuel_Cell_Based_on_WO_sub_3_sub_W_Photoanode_and_Cu_sub_2_sub_O_Cu_Photocathode_for_Simultaneous_Wastewater_Treatment_and_Electricity_Generation/2477956
A visible-light driven photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC)
system comprised of WO<sub>3</sub>/W photoanode and Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu photocathode was established for organic compounds degradation
with simultaneous electricity generation. The central idea for its
operation is the mismatched Fermi levels between the two photoelectrodes.
Under light illumination, the Fermi level of WO<sub>3</sub>/W photoanode
is higher than that of Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu photocathode. An interior
bias can be produced based on which the electrons of WO<sub>3</sub>/W photoanode can transfer from the external circuit to combine with
the holes of Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu photocathode then generates the electricity.
In this manner, the electron/hole pairs separations at two photoelectrodes
are facilitated to release the holes of WO<sub>3</sub>/W photoanode
and electrons of Cu<sub>2</sub>O/Cu photocathode. Organic compounds
can be decomposed by the holes of WO<sub>3</sub>/W photoanode due
to its high oxidation power (+3.1–3.2 <i>V</i><sub>NHE</sub>). The results demonstrated that various model compounds
including phenol, Rhodamine B, and Congo red can be successfully decomposed
in this PFC system, with the degradation rate after 5 h operation
were obtained to be 58%, 63%, and 74%, respectively. The consistent
operation for continuous water treatment with the electricity generation
at a long time scale was also confirmed from the result. The proposed
PFC system provides a self-sustained and energy-saving way for simultaneous
wastewater treatment and energy recovery.