LEAF targets the design and development of a modular photoelectrochemical system for the decoupled production of solar fuels and implementation of a carbon-neutral energy landscape. The LEAF approach aims to decouple hydrogen and oxygen production in time and/or in space. This is realized by two steps: the first one consists of a phototelectrochemical cell where water oxidation is coupled to the reduction of a redox mediator (M). In step 2, the so-obtained reduced form of the redox mediator is used to drive water reduction.
The main advantages of the LEAF approaches compared to direct water splitting are:
(i) rate of the hydrogen evolution reaction not limited by the oxygen evolution reaction;
(ii) no mixing of hydrogen and oxygen gases by physical separation of the two processes;
(iii) operation under milder conditions, without interference by possible production of oxygen reactive species.
Department of Chemistry Ciamician - University of Bologna
Prof. Paola Ceroni - Prof. Francesco Paolucci
Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences - University of Ferrara
Department of Chemical Sciences- University of Catania