A bright outlook on organic photoelectrochemical cells for water splitting
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Published version
Author(s)
Steier, Ludmilla
Holliday, Sarah
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Photoelectrochemcial (PEC) water splitting is increasingly attracting attention as a means to generate clean, renewable hydrogen fuel from solar energy. This Highlight article covers the key advances that have been made over recent years in organic photoelectrochemical (OPEC) cell research, and identifies a pathway forwards combining state-of-the-art materials and device engineering from both the organic photovoltaics and inorganic PEC water splitting communities. We discuss the advantages of using buried junction device architectures in OPEC photoelectrodes and identify the need for new materials for OPEC water splitting cells in order to improve their efficiency and operating stability. We present an overview on promising new absorbers and device architectures employed in the parallel field of organic photovoltaics with a critical view on requirements for OPEC water splitting. We also elaborate on progress made with organic multijunction cells that we see as promising photocathode designs for voltage-unassisted water splitting. Finally, we see the urgent need for benchmarking rules, in terms of performance and stability parameters, as this emerging field of OPEC water splitting progresses.
Date Issued
2018-11-28
Date Acceptance
2018-09-12
Citation
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2018, 6 (44), pp.21809-21826
ISSN
2050-7496
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
21809
End Page
21826
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume
6
Issue
44
Copyright Statement
© 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Sponsor
Commission of the European Communities
Identifier
https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2018/TA/C8TA07036A#!divAbstract
Grant Number
749231
Subjects
0303 Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2018-10-08