Photocatalytic system for the reduction of carbon dioxide
AssigneeSunpower Technologies LLC
InventorDANIEL LANDRY
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Abstract
A system and method employing sunlight energy for the reduction of carbon dioxide into methane and water are disclosed. Methane gas may then be stored for later use as fuel. The system and method may use inorganic capping agents that cap the surface of semiconductor nanocrystals to form photocatalytic capped colloidal nanocrystals, which may be deposited on a substrate and treated to form a photoactive material. The photoactive material may be employed in the system to harvest sunlight and produce energy necessary for carbon dioxide reduction. The system may also include elements necessary to collect and transfer methane, for subsequent transformation into electrical energy.
Claims18
A photocatalytic capped colloidal nanocrystal, comprising
- first and second semiconductor nanocrystals, formed as a nanorod, the first semiconductor nanocrystal nanorod regions lying at the ends of the nanorod, and the second semiconductor nanocrystal nanorod region disposed between the first semiconductor nanocrystal regions;
- a first inorganic capping agent overlying at least a portion of the first semiconductor nanocrystal;
- and
- a second inorganic capping agent overlying at least a portion of the second semiconductor nanocrystal.
A method for reducing carbon dioxide, comprising:
- introducing carbon dioxide gas and hydrogen gas into a reaction vessel;
- shining light onto a photoactive material within the reaction vessel, the light having sufficient energy to produce charge separation within the photoactive material;
- passing the carbon dioxide gas through the photoactive material to react the carbon dioxide with the photoactive material, initiating reduction of the carbon dioxide to methane and oxidation of the hydrogen to water.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.