A chemist's guide to photoelectrode development for water splitting – the importance of molecular precursor design

EES catalysis Pub Date : 2023-09-21 DOI:10.1039/D3EY00176H
Thom R. Harris-Lee, Frank Marken, Cameron L. Bentley, Jie Zhang and Andrew L. Johnson
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Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising method for generating green hydrogen as a solar fuel, overcoming the issues associated with unreliability and periodicity of renewable technologies. While research in this field is growing, there is a distinct gap between complex device development and fundamental synthesis of the individual materials. For optimal device fabrication we need materials scientists and engineers to create complex multicomponent photoelectrodes, but also inorganic chemists to design bespoke precursors tailored to produce highly efficient, specifically designed photoelectrode materials. The success of precursor design for semiconductors in fields such as microelectronics has proven the significant impact of the precursor, however, this approach has yet to be used extensively in device fabrication for PEC water splitting. This review acts as a guide towards bespoke precursor development for the fabrication of tailored thin films; particularly how to design the structure and composition of the precursor to promote and enhance the most desired properties, including solubility, volatility, and thermal decomposition. The key areas of focus for device design are outlined, including both single thin film performance and overall device modifications and additions to create a high-performance PEC water splitting electrode. There is a specific emphasis towards chemical vapour deposition techniques due to the suitability for scale-up and commercial application compared to alternatives, and importantly, the significant influence of the molecular precursor on the deposition, and hence its link to synthetic chemistry. We aim to direct more synthetic chemists towards the field of PEC water splitting, encouraging collaboration to connect these two areas and bring the target of a commercially and industrially viable PEC system ever closer.

Abstract Image

用于水分解的光电极开发的化学家指南——分子前体设计的重要性
光电化学(PEC)水分解是一种很有前途的生产绿色氢气作为太阳能燃料的方法,克服了可再生技术的不可靠性和周期性问题。虽然这一领域的研究正在增长,但复杂器件的开发和单个材料的基本合成之间存在着明显的差距。为了实现最佳器件制造,我们需要材料科学家和工程师来制造复杂的多组分光电极,也需要无机化学家来设计定制的前体,以生产高效、专门设计的光电极材料。半导体前体设计在微电子等领域的成功证明了前体的重大影响,然而,这种方法尚未广泛用于PEC水分解的器件制造。这篇综述为定制薄膜制造的定制前驱体开发提供了指导;特别是如何设计前体的结构和组成,以促进和增强最理想的性能,包括溶解度、挥发性和热分解。概述了器件设计的重点领域,包括单个薄膜性能和整体器件的修改和添加,以创建高性能PEC水分解电极。由于与替代品相比,化学气相沉积技术适合扩大规模和商业应用,而且重要的是,分子前体对沉积的重大影响,因此它与合成化学的联系,因此特别强调化学气相沉淀技术。我们的目标是引导更多的合成化学家进入PEC水分解领域,鼓励合作将这两个领域联系起来,并使商业和工业上可行的PEC系统的目标更加接近。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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