Exploring the potential of buckled arsenene monolayers for green hydrogen production – AIP.ORG

Advancements in Photocatalytic Materials for Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing SDG 7 and SDG 13

The transition to sustainable energy systems is critical for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Hydrogen is identified as a key clean energy carrier, but its prevalent production from fossil fuels undermines these goals. Research into green hydrogen production via methods like photocatalytic water splitting is essential for developing sustainable industrial processes and mitigating climate change.

Research on Arsenene as a Novel Photocatalyst

A study by Panchal et al. investigates the potential of arsenene, a 2D semiconductor material, as a highly efficient photocatalyst for water splitting. This research directly supports SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure) by exploring innovative materials to overcome the limitations of traditional catalysts, which are often inefficient, unstable, or toxic.

Methodology and Key Findings

The research team utilized density functional theory (DFT) simulations to assess the viability of buckled arsenene monolayers. The analysis focused on three primary areas:

1. Structural Stability: Phonon dispersion analysis confirmed the material’s stability, a prerequisite for practical, long-term applications in industrial settings.
2. Electronic Properties: Electronic band structure analysis revealed that buckled arsenene possesses an ideal band gap for absorbing solar energy efficiently, a key factor for harnessing renewable energy sources as outlined in SDG 7.
3. Catalytic Activity: The material demonstrated strong hydrogen adsorption capabilities, which is crucial for the effective production of molecular hydrogen from water.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

The findings indicate that buckled arsenene is a promising candidate for advancing green hydrogen technology, with significant implications for several SDGs:

• SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy): By providing a pathway to more efficient green hydrogen production, this innovation can increase the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
• SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure): The study represents a significant scientific innovation, promoting the development of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes.
• SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): This technology supports the shift towards sustainable production patterns by offering an alternative to fossil fuel-dependent processes.
• SDG 13 (Climate Action): Widespread adoption of such technology would substantially reduce carbon emissions from the industrial sector, contributing directly to climate change mitigation efforts.

Future Directions and Continued Innovation

The researchers plan to continue their work to enhance the photocatalytic performance of arsenene. Future research will explore:

• The effects of doping, creating heterostructures, and defect engineering to further optimize the material’s efficiency.
• The study of multi-atom adsorption processes to better simulate real-world catalytic environments.

These next steps align with the continuous improvement and innovation principles central to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

  The article directly addresses this goal by focusing on the production of hydrogen, described as a “versatile clean fuel of the future.” It highlights the problem that current commercial hydrogen production relies on “fossil fuels” and explores a “green production method” using photocatalysis to make clean energy more viable and efficient.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

  This goal is central to the article, which details scientific innovation and research. The exploration of an “emerging semiconductor material arsenene” using advanced methods like “density functional theory (DFT)” represents an effort to enhance scientific research and upgrade technology for sustainable industrial processes (hydrogen production).

• SDG 13: Climate Action

  By aiming to replace hydrogen production from “fossil fuels” with a “green production method,” the research contributes to climate change mitigation. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels is a key strategy for lowering greenhouse gas emissions, which is the primary objective of climate action.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   • Target 7.2: By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix. The research on using sunlight (“photocatalysis”) to produce hydrogen fuel is a direct effort to develop and improve a renewable energy technology, thereby contributing to increasing its share.
   • Target 7.a: By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology… and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology. The publication of this research in the Journal of Applied Physics is an act of disseminating scientific knowledge, which facilitates access to clean energy research and technology on a global scale.

2. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   • Target 9.4: By 2030, upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies and industrial processes. The development of arsenene as an “efficient, visible-light-responsive, and stable” photocatalyst is a step towards creating a clean and environmentally sound technology for the hydrogen production industry.
   • Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation. The entire article is a testament to this target, detailing advanced scientific research (“DFT simulations,” “phonon dispersion,” “electronic band structure analysis”) and future plans to “further tune photocatalytic performance” through “doping, heterostructures, or defect engineering.”

3. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation. While indirect, this scientific publication contributes to the body of knowledge on climate change mitigation technologies. It raises awareness within the scientific and industrial communities about new pathways to decarbonize energy production.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

The article does not mention official SDG indicator codes, but it implies several qualitative and quantitative measures of progress:

• Efficiency of clean energy technology: The article repeatedly emphasizes the need for efficiency, stating that current green methods are “too inefficient to compete.” The research on arsenene aims to find a material with the “right combination of stability, electronic structure, and catalytic activity” for “efficient solar absorption.” Therefore, the measured efficiency of this new photocatalytic process is a key indicator.
• Level of scientific research and innovation: The research itself, its publication, and the detailed methodologies (“DFT simulations”) serve as an indicator of progress in scientific research (relevant to Target 9.5). The planned future research (“studying doping, heterostructures, or defect engineering”) also indicates ongoing innovation.
• Development of stable and non-toxic materials: The article notes that traditional photocatalysts can be “unstable” or “composed of toxic materials.” The confirmed “structural stability” of buckled arsenene is presented as a key finding and serves as an indicator of the development of more sustainable and environmentally sound materials.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: aip.org