(Invited) Solar Thermal Electrochemical Production of Energetic Molecules: Efficient STEP Solar Water Splitting, Carbon Capture, and Solar Metals, Fuel and Bleach Production

The Solar Thermal Electrochemical Production of energetic molecules converts solar energy at high efficiency. Rather than electricity, a variety of useful chemicals, including solar fuels and iron without CO2 emission, are produced by this STEP process. A synergy of solar thermal and solar-electric and other renewable energy electronic charge transfer, forms an alternative higher efficiency solar energy conversion process. For example, STEP can split CO2 with >50% solar efficiency. Previously, we demonstrated STEP carbon capture, STEP fuels and STEP iron. Here we expand the STEP process portfolio to include the solar production of magnesium and bleach.