Toward practical photoelectrochemical water splitting and CO2 reduction using earth-abundant materials

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) fuel generation from water splitting and CO2 reduction (CO2R) utilizing solar energy holds immense potential to solve the current energy and environmental issues. In the past decades, numerous studies have been devoted to this fast-growing research field, and it is essential to develop efficient photoelectrodes with earth-abundant materials for the practical application of PEC systems. A thorough review of earth-abundant materials and associated devices for PEC fuel generation is beneficial to uncover the inherent obstacles and pave the way for future research. Herein, we summarize the recent progress of earth-abundant light-absorbers and cocatalysts in the PEC systems. The unbiased configurations and scaling-up strategies of PEC devices using earth-abundant materials are examined. A comparison between PEC water splitting and CO2R is carried out to promote better understanding of the design principles for practical materials and devices. Last, the prospects on advanced materials, underlying mechanisms, and reaction systems of PEC water splitting and CO2R are proposed. (C) 2021 Science Press and Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by ELSEVIER B.V. and Science Press. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The utilization of solar energy for photoelectrochemical fuel generation has great potential in solving energy and environmental issues. Developing efficient photoelectrodes with earth-abundant materials is essential for practical applications. This review summarizes recent progress in earth-abundant materials in PEC systems, providing insights for future research.