Renewable Hydrogen Production via Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

February 28, 2017; 12-1 pm in Whitby 211

Hydrogen has been considered as a clean energy fuel to replace fossil fuels for solving the global energy and environmental problems. However current technologies for hydrogen production, primarily via petroleum reforming, still consume fossil fuels and generate emissions. The hydrogen economy can only be realistic after hydrogen production becomes renewable and clean. Hydrogen production via photocatalytic water splitting is deemed as one promising technology, which consumes only solar energy and water and has zero emission. However this technology, with as high as about 30% theoretical energy conversion efficiency and practical efficiency limited to <1% up to date, still needs big research advances before real application.

With the FRC support, we are researching a heterojunctioned two-dimensional (2D) photocatalytic structure, which composes of photon harvesting nanosheets with active water electrolysis catalyst nanoparticles on the surface, to improve the efficiency of photocatalytic water splitting. Through this project, several 2D semiconductors for photon harvesting and semiconductor nanoparticles for water splitting electrocatalysis have been prepared, characterized and tested for the properties. Several key parameters have been investigated for their influences on water splitting electrocatalysis.

Dr. Zhenmeng Peng is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees at the University of Science and Technology of China, his Ph.D. degree at University of Rochester, and his postdoc training at the University of California at Berkeley. Dr. Peng’s research interests include understanding of catalytic reactions at a molecular level, design of highly active, cost-effective and stable electrocatalysts for fuel cells and water splitting, and development of advanced materials useful as heterogeneous catalysts for energy-related reactions. He has so far co-authored more than 50 peer-reviewed journal papers, one review article, and two book chapters.