Boreskov Institute of Catalysis SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia

SOLAR ACTIVATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL REACTIONCATALYSISMichael MichmanThe Institute of Chemistry, Campus E.Y. Safra,The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904 Jerusalem, IsraelFax: 972 2 6585345, michman@cc.huji.ac.ilPP-36The utilization of solar energy for heating and power production is gainingimpetus throughout the technology prospect of the 21-century. New developments ofcommercially available collectors with improved efficiency and decreasing price havemade the solar option practical and available. When used for power production theoutput is transformed to AC current yet it is principally a DC source.Electrochemistry (EC) on the other hand is very efficient in sensing devises andanalysis due to its high sensitivity but very expensive in reactions as reflected in thehigh value of the Faraday constant. Also low voltage and high DC currents arerecognized for high loss of energy – heat loss. Therefore EC, though consideredoccasionally as a green method, is therefore the method of choice only in selectedcases.Using photovoltaic collectors for power generation can become an interestingoption for the activation of slow reactions, low concentration processes of materialtreatment, water treatment, in well-known reactions such as oxidations, chlorination,metal-ion treatment, etc. Some illustration by which EC catalysis can be applied willbe supported with examples of our work [1-3]. All these need specific considerationsof electrodes, electrolytes and catalysis. Some examples of our previous work areconsidered.[1]. S. Chocron and M. Michman, J. Mol. Catal. 83, 251- 259, (1993).[2]. L. Appelbaum, C. Heinrichs, J. Dehmtschuk, M. Michman, M. Oron, H.J. Schäfer and H.Schumann, J. Organomet. Chem. 592/2 240-250 1999.[3]. L. Appelbaum, D. Danovich, G. Lazanes, M. Michman* and M. Oron. J. Electroanal. Chem. 49939-47 2001.125