A standardized database framework for synthetic carbon-based solar fuels

A standardized database framework for synthetic carbon-based solar fuels

Category

Contribute

Institutions

EPFL

Data type

Solar Fuels

Field

Renewable Energy Science and Engineering

Researchers

Isaac Holmes-Gentle

Description

“Solar fuels” is an exciting research field which studies the conversion of solar energy into sustainable fuels as a transitional technology to a greener future. The SolarFuelsDB project is an open-access tool following the FAIR principles (i.e. Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) for collating peer-reviewed research outputs and assessing progress in the field of solar fuels. The original database (launched in Dec. 2021) focused on photo-electrochemical water splitting (hydrogen production) and developed a classification framework, database, and online interface for data entry and visualization. The field of solar fuels is diverse and evolving and so it was important to further develop the database to reflect this. In this project, we built on the existing database by extending to further chemistries (e.g. CO2 reduction) and approaches (e.g. solar thermochemical cycles). In order to achieve this, the database structure and website interface had to be redesigned to allow the flexible configuration of new classification frameworks. Then, new classification frameworks were added for thermochemical water and CO2 splitting and photo-electrochemical CO2 splitting. Finally, a literature review was conducted and the devices found to meet the eligibility criteria were added to the database. The extended SolarFuelsDB aims to better capture the diverse range of solar fuel chemistries and technological pathways and to unify this into a single repository, allowing for systematic and fair performance comparisons.
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