Unbiased photoelectrochemical hydrogen production with high efficiency and durability is highly desired for solar energy storage. Here, we report a microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system that demonstrated superior performance when equipped with bioanodes and black silicon photocathode with a unique “Swiss-cheese” interface. The MPEC utilizes the chemical energy embedded in wastewater organics to boost solar H 2 production, which overcomes barriers on anode H 2 O oxidation. Without any bias, the MPEC generates a record photocurrent (up to 23 mA cm −2 ) and retains prolonged stability for over 90 hours with high Faradaic efficiency (96–99%). The calculated turnover number for MoS x catalyst during a 90 h period is 495 471 with an average frequency of 1.53 s −1 . The system replaced pure water on the anode with actual wastewater and achieved waste organic removal up to 16 kg COD m −2 photocathode per day. Cost credits from concurrent wastewater treatment and low-cost design make photoelectrochemical H 2 production practical for the first time.
Intraday variability of indicator and pathogenic viruses in 1-h and 24-h composite wastewater samples: Implications for wastewater-based epidemiology
- Award ID(s):
- 2027752
- Publication Date:
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10224764
- Journal Name:
- Environmental Research
- Volume:
- 193
- Issue:
- C
- Page Range or eLocation-ID:
- 110531
- ISSN:
- 0013-9351
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation