Water splitting dye-sensitized solar cells

Publication date: Available online 15 May 2017
Source:Nano Today
Author(s): Pengtao Xu, Nicholas S. McCool, Thomas E. Mallouk
Research in artificial photosynthesis is driven by the goal of creating low-cost, integrated systems for the direct conversion of solar energy to high energy density fuels. Water-splitting dye-sensitized solar cells can in principle leverage the successful architecture, spectral tunability, and high quantum efficiency of regenerative photovoltaic dye cells toward this goal. In this article, we review the current development of both dye-sensitized photoanodes and photocathodes for water splitting. A detailed discussion of the individual components of photoanodes and photocathodes – semiconductors, sensitizers, and catalysts – is presented. We review experiments on the electron transfer kinetics that control the efficiency of water splitting, and highlight recent research on electrode architectures that can improve both the efficiency and stability of water-splitting dye cells.

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