Artificial Photosynthesis with Semiconductor–Liquid Junctions

Authors

  • Néstor Guijarro École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, CH H4 565, Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Florian Le Formal École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, CH H4 565, Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Kevin Sivula École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Institute of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, CH H4 565, Station 6, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland. kevin.sivula@epfl.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2015.30

Keywords:

Energy storage, Hydrogen, Nanoparticles, Photoelectrochemical water splitting, Semiconductor, Solar fuels, Thin films

Abstract

Given the urgent need to develop a sustainable, carbon neutral energy storage system on a global scale, intense efforts are currently underway to advance the field of artificial photosynthesis: i.e. solar fuel engineering. In this review we give an overview of the field of artificial photosynthesis using a semiconductor–electrolyte interface employed in a photoelectrochemical device or as a heterogeneous photocatalyst. First we present a basic description of the operation principles of a semiconductor–liquid junction based device. The role of nanotechnology in the recent advances in the field is highlighted and common material systems under current study are briefly reviewed. The importance of the material surfaces are further scrutinized by presenting recent advances in interfacial engineering. Technical challenges and an outlook towards industrialization of the technology are given.

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Published

2015-02-25

How to Cite

[1]
N. Guijarro, F. L. Formal, K. Sivula, Chimia 2015, 69, 30, DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2015.30.

Issue

Section

Scientific Articles