A review of inorganic photoelectrode developments and reactor scale-up challenges for solar hydrogen production
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Moss, Benjamin
Babacan, Oytun
Kafizas, Andreas
Hankin, Anna
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Green hydrogen, produced using solar energy, is a promising means of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting devices can produce hydrogen using sunlight and integrate the distinct functions of photovoltaics and electrolyzers in a single device. There is flexibility in the degree of integration between these electrical and chemical energy generating components, and so a plethora of archetypal PEC device designs has emerged. Although some materials have effectively been ruled out for use in commercial PEC devices, many principles of material design and synthesis have been learned. Here, the fundamental requirements of PEC materials, the top performances of the most widely studied inorganic photoelectrode materials, and reactor structures reported for unassisted solar water splitting are revisited. The main phenomena limiting the performance of up‐scaled PEC devices are discussed, showing that engineering must be considered in parallel with material development for the future piloting of PEC water splitting systems. To establish the future commercial viability of this technology, more accurate techno‐economic analyses should be carried out using data from larger scale demonstrations, and hence more durable and efficient PEC systems need to be developed that meet the challenges imposed from both material and engineering perspectives.
Date Issued
2021-04-08
Date Acceptance
2021-02-01
Citation
Advanced Energy Materials, 2021, 11 (13), pp.1-43
ISSN
1614-6832
Publisher
Wiley-VCH Verlag
Start Page
1
End Page
43
Journal / Book Title
Advanced Energy Materials
Volume
11
Issue
13
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. This is the accepted version of the following article: Moss, B., Babacan, O., Kafizas, A., Hankin, A., A Review of Inorganic Photoelectrode Developments and Reactor Scale‐Up Challenges for Solar Hydrogen Production. Adv. Energy Mater., 11, 13, 8 April 2021, 2003286, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202003286
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000621516700001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Energy & Fuels
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Physics, Applied
Physics, Condensed Matter
Chemistry
Materials Science
Physics
hydrogen
inorganic photoelectrodes
photoelectrochemistry
reactor engineering
solar fuels
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 2003286
Date Publish Online
2021-02-25