Ni(OH)2 as Hole Mediator for Visible Light-Induced Urea Splitting

By Zhao, Rong; Schumacher, Grant; Leahy, Stephen; Radich, James G.
Published in The Journal of Physical Chemistry C

Abstract

Urea is a small molecule produced in millions of tons per day and is ubiquitous in nature. Biological treatment is commonly used to oxidize the urea wastewater produced each day across the world, which produces additional solid waste and eliminates any potential for utilizing the stored chemical energy within. A solar waste-to-fuels concept is presented to synergistically produce hydrogen fuel from visible sunlight while remediating urea wastewaters. A cascade semiconductor-catalyst electrode assembly was designed to drive the photoconversion of urea to hydrogen. Proper band energy alignment facilitates catalyst activation via hole transfer across the semiconductor

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