Light-driven bioinspired water splitting: Recent developments in photoelectrode materials

The field of artificial photosynthesis aiming at storing solar energy in the form of the fuel hydrogen through water splitting is a matter of intense research currently. It is now conceivable to assemble a molecular-based photo-electrochemical cell in which light-driven water oxidation to oxygen occurs at the photoanode and reduction of water to hydrogen at the cathode. This implies the parallel development of: (i) efficient and stable electrocatalysts, based on non-noble metals, for accelerating the multi-electronic processes at work at each electrode; (ii) efficient and stable photosensitizers for absorbing visible light and generating a charge separation state with redox potentials compatible with water splitting. Here we describe the recent achievements on the way to the assembly of such electrode materials. (C) 2011 Academie des sciences. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.