Advancing Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion through Atomic Design of Catalysts

Abstract

Powered by inexhaustible solar energy, photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen/ammonia production and reduction of carbon dioxide to high added-value chemicals in eco-friendly and mild conditions provide a highly attractive solution to carbon neutrality. Recently, substantial advances have been achieved in PEC systems by improving light absorption and charge separation/transfer in PEC devices. However, less attention is given to the atomic design of photoelectrocatalysts to facilitate the final catalytic reactions occurring at photoelectrode surface, which largely limits the overall photo-to-energy conversion of PEC system. Fundamental catalytic mechanisms and recent progress in atomic design of PEC materials are comprehensively reviewed by engineering of defect, dopant, facet, strain, and single atom to enhance the activity and selectivity. Finally, the emerging challenges and research directions in design of PEC systems for future photo-to-energy conversions are proposed.

Single-atom catalysts for high-efficiency photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting: distinctive roles, unique fabrication methods and specific design strategies

“…The fabrication routes of SACs for photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting play a highly crucial role in anchoring SAs on the substrate to achieve superior lightharvesting and charge carrier transport/separation capability, abundant active sites for surface redox reactions and excellent photo(electro)catalytic activity. 56,96,130,[150][151][152][153] The unique fabrication routes of SACs are summarized and discussed in this section and the comparison of fabrication methods for SACs and typical NP-based photocatalysts as well as various synthesis routes of SACs applied in photo(electro)catalysis, electrocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis is also presented and discussed in detail.…”

“…The design, selection and modication of the synthesis routes for SACs are mainly determined by the properties of catalysts suitable for specic catalytic reactions including photo(electro) catalysis, electrocatalysis and heterogeneous catalysis. 20,56,121,150,[163][164][165][166] Although some fabrication methods are generally applicable for various catalytic reactions such as wetchemical routes, pyrolysis methods, photochemical/ electrochemical approaches and physical/chemical vapor deposition, the differences in the detailed fabrication parameters of the same route highlight the unique characteristics of SACs in various catalytic reactions. In this section, various synthesis routes of SACs applied in electrocatalysis (e.g., HER and OER), heterogeneous catalysis (e.g., CO 2 reduction) and particularly photo(electro)catalysis (e.g., HER) are presented and discussed.…”

Zinc-Based Materials for Photoelectrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

“…Recently, reviews on the catalytic materials for PEC CO 2 reduction are mostly focused on Cu-based materials, Si-based materials, NiO, TiO 2 , graphene, metal–organic frameworks (MOF), nonoxide semiconductors, and metal sulfides. ,− The optimization strategies include semiconductor construction and atomic level design. − However, zinc-based materials for PEC CO 2 reduction have not been summarized. In this review, the principles for PEC CO 2 reduction are briefly introduced.…”

Enhanced solar water splitting of BiVO4photoanodes byin situsurface band edge modulation

“…Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting can directly use solar energy to split water into clean hydrogen energy, which can then be used to address existing energy and environmental problems. 1–8 This technique has great potential in practical applications because it can be integrated by thin-film photoelectrodes of photocathode and photoanode that act as a device with a self-biased independent structure. 9,10 Among the candidate materials for the photoanode, n-type semiconductor materials, such as TiO 2 , 11,12 ZnO, 13 BiVO 4 , 14–17 WO 3 , 18,19 Fe 2 O 3 , 20,21 and Ta 3 N 5 , 22 have been widely used as photoanodes.…”