Solar Fuels: Conversion Pathways and Reactor Concepts

This lecture covers the conversion pathways of solar energy into fuels, including hybrid pathways using fossil fuels, solar thermochemistry, and photochemistry. It explores reactor concepts for solar thermochemistry and photoelectrochemistry, emphasizing the importance of stringent material requirements. The lecture also discusses proposed devices for solar-to-fuel and solar-to-material processes, highlighting the sustainability issues and efficiency considerations. Various calculations and experimental demonstrations are presented, showcasing the potential of solar fuels and materials production. Additionally, the lecture delves into net value per energy considerations and references key review articles in the field.