Fiber-optic integrated membrane reactor
A reactor for water splitting or water treatment includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode, and a proton exchange membrane separating the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first optical fiber coated with a photocatalytic material.
1. A reactor comprising:
a first electrode comprising a first optical fiber coated with a photocatalytic material;
a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode; and
a proton exchange membrane separating the first electrode and the second electrode,
wherein the proton exchange membrane is a flexible, hollow fiber, and the first electrode is positioned in the proton exchange membrane.
2. The reactor of claim 1 , wherein the first optical fiber is coated with a conductive material.
3. The reactor of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode comprises a second optical fiber, and the second optical fiber is coated with a conductive material.
4. The reactor of claim 1 , wherein the second electrode is in the form of a flexible layer.
5. The reactor of claim 1 , comprising a light source coupled to the first optical fiber.
6. The reactor of claim 5 , wherein the light source is an artificial light source.
7. The reactor of claim 6 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.
8. The reactor of claim 1 , wherein the proton exchange membrane comprises a first layer and a second layer, and the first electrode is positioned between the first layer and the second layer.
9. The reactor of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode configured to be coupled to a sunlight-collecting device.
10. The reactor of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is configured to be coupled to a laser.
11. A reactor comprising:
a reservoir configured to hold water;
a multiplicity of flexible, hollow fiber proton exchange membranes positioned in the reservoir;
a first electrode positioned in each of the flexible, hollow fiber proton exchange membranes, wherein each first electrode comprises a first optical fiber coated with a photocatalytic material; and
one or more second electrodes positioned in the reservoir, each second electrode electrically coupled to at least one of the first electrodes.
12. The reactor of claim 11 , wherein the photocatalytic material comprises titanium dioxide.
13. The reactor of claim 11 , wherein the first optical fiber is coated with a conductive material.
14. The reactor of claim 13 , wherein the conductive material comprises indium tin oxide.
15. The reactor of claim 11 , comprising a light source coupled to each of the first electrodes.
16. The reactor of claim 11 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.