Bifunctional Nanostructured TiO2 photoelectrocatalyst for Improving Overall Water splitting performance
Titanium dioxide TiO2 is a semiconductor, that has great chemical and physical properties, such as remarkable resistance against corrosion, chemical stability, and it’s a non-toxic material. Due to these properties, it rises as an excellent candidate for a wide range of different applications, such as being a popular material for solar cells, paints, cosmetics, energy storge devices, and water splitting. For photoelectrochemical water splitting to generate Hydrogen, a large surface area is essential, to be maximized to enhance photocatalytic redox processes and hence improve overall efficiency. Therefore, different methods have been utilized to fabricate TiO2 nanotubular structure. However, they either encounter a difficult process because of a long synthesis time or the need of expensive precursors. In our work, we demonstrated a study of enhancing 1 D TiO2 film to perform as a bifunctional catalyst (works as cathode and anode). As it is known that TiO2 is kinetically hampered as cathode for producing hydrogen from water, this is due to sluggish electron transfer at the interface between TiO2 and water and the conduction band of the TiO2, which is more negative than H+/H2. To tackle this problem, TiO2 film should be modified. In this work, we modified the TiO2 as bifunctional by investigating different parameters in detail, like the anodic oxidation solution content, anodic oxidation time, and the role of the polyethylene glycol chain. Electrochemical characterization and SEM, and XPS were utilized to prevent the nanotubes structure and to confirm the chemical bonding as well as investigating the physical properties such as resistance and electron kinetic mobility.
Fabrication of Highly Efficient and Cost-effective Tandem Dye-sensitized Solar Cells for Building Integrated Photovoltaics
In recent years, there has been an extreme rise in population and economic development, which requires a great demand for energy worldwide. Global energy consumption has been increasing nearly every year for over half a century [1]; it is rapidly rising in the form of nonrenewable energy, such as coal, oil, natural gas, and fossil fuel. Fossil fuel overreliance has resulted in a dramatic rise in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations.
Desert to Fertile Land: Developing TEPA‐modified montmorillonite clay as an efficient CO2 adsorbent to enhance soil fertility
Global warming is a phenomenon in which the Earth's overall temperature rises as a result of increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Among the major greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide (CO2) is the primary greenhouse gas that contributes significantly to global warming [1,2]. The concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is rising due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas), as well as changes in land use and vegetation [3]. Carbon dioxide and other gases, such as methane and nitrogen monoxide absorb infrared radiation and redirect it back to Earth, warming the planet [4]. This rise in temperature can impact ecosystems, climate, water resources, agriculture, public health, and societies in general [5]. To combat global warming and reduce carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere, many countries around the world, including Saudi Arabia, are working to achieve a vision to reduce carbon emissions by reducing their carbon emissions by 278 million tons per year by 2030 in line with the Paris Agreement, for climate. The Kingdom is committed to generating 50% of its electrical energy from renewable sources by 2030. In addition to the shift in the local energy mix, the Saudi Green Initiative is implementing a number of ambitious programs and projects to reduce emissions. These programs include investing in new energy sources, promoting energy efficiency, and expanding carbon capture and storage programs [6]. Through these initiatives, the Kingdom will be able to achieve its climate goals and establish a sustainable future (Figure 1). In addition, the Paris Climate Change Agreement includes 196 countries and the European Union, covering most of the world. This agreement aims to achieve carbon neutrality by taking measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions [7].