Tandem cells for unbiased photoelectrochemical water splitting

Bin Liu; Shujie Wang; Gong Zhang; Zichen Gong; Bo Wu; Tuo Wang; Jinlong Gong

doi:10.1039/d3cs00145h

Tandem cells for unbiased photoelectrochemical water splitting

Chem Soc Rev. 2023 Jul 17;52(14):4644-4671. doi: 10.1039/d3cs00145h.

Authors

Bin Liu^{1

2

3

4}, Shujie Wang^{1

2

3}, Gong Zhang^{1

2}, Zichen Gong^{1

2}, Bo Wu^{1

2}, Tuo Wang^{1

2}, Jinlong Gong^{1

2

3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China. wangtuo@tju.edu.cn.
² Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering (Tianjin), Tianjin 300072, China.
³ Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, China.
⁴ Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
⁵ Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China.

PMID: 37325843
DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00145h

Abstract

Hydrogen is an essential energy carrier which will address the challenges posed by the energy crisis and climate change. Photoelectrochemical water splitting (PEC) is an important method for producing solar-powered hydrogen. The PEC tandem configuration harnesses sunlight as the exclusive energy source to drive both the hydrogen (HER) and oxygen evolution reactions (OER), simultaneously. Therefore, PEC tandem cells have been developed and gained tremendous interest in recent decades. This review describes the current status of the development of tandem cells for unbiased photoelectrochemical water splitting. The basic principles and prerequisites for constructing PEC tandem cells are introduced first. We then review various single photoelectrodes for use in water reduction or oxidation, and highlight the current state-of-the-art discoveries. Second, a close look into recent developments of PEC tandem cells in water splitting is provided. Finally, a perspective on the key challenges and prospects for the development of tandem cells for unbiased PEC water splitting are given.

Publication types

Review