Revisiting solar hydrogen production through photovoltaic-electrocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting
Zhiliang WANG(), Yuang GU, Lianzhou WANG()
Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is regarded as a promising way for solar hydrogen production, while the fast development of photovoltaic-electrolysis (PV-EC) has pushed PEC research into an embarrassed situation. In this paper, a comparison of PEC and PV-EC in terms of efficiency, cost, and stability is conducted and briefly discussed. It is suggested that the PEC should target on high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency based on cheap semiconductors in order to maintain its role in the technological race of sustainable hydrogen production.
Corresponding Author(s):
Zhiliang WANG,Lianzhou WANG
引用本文:
. [J]. Frontiers in Energy, 2021, 15(3): 596-599.
Zhiliang WANG, Yuang GU, Lianzhou WANG. Revisiting solar hydrogen production through photovoltaic-electrocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting. Front. Energy, 2021, 15(3): 596-599.
H Jr Letaw, J Bardeen. Electrolytic analog transistor. Journal of Applied Physics, 1954, 25(5): 600–606 https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1721697
3
L M Peter. Semiconductor electrochemistry. In: Giménez S, Bisquert J, eds. Photoelectrochemical Solar Fuel Production. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 2016: 3–40
4
F Williams, A J Nozik. Solid-state perspectives of the photoelectrochemistry of semiconductor–electrolyte junctions. Nature, 1984, 312(5989): 21–27 https://doi.org/10.1038/312021a0
5
A B Ellis, S W Kaiser, J M Bolts, et al.. Study of n-type semiconducting cadmium chalcogenide-based photoelectrochemical cells employing polychalcogenide electrolytes. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 1977, 99(9): 2839–2848 https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00451a001
6
N R de Tacconi, N Myung, K Rajeshwar. Overlayer formation in the n-CdSe/[Fe(CN)6]4−/3− photoelectrochemical system as probed by laser Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical quartz crystal microgravimetry. Journal of Physical Chemistry, 1995, 99(16): 6103–6109 https://doi.org/10.1021/j100016a054
S R Morrison. Applications of semiconductor electrodes. In: Electrochemistry at Semiconductor and Oxidized Metal Electrodes. Boston, MA: Springer US, 1980: 335–357
12
A Fujishima, K Honda. Electrochemical photolysis of water at a semiconductor electrode. Nature, 1972, 238(5358): 37–38 https://doi.org/10.1038/238037a0
13
NRER. National Best research—cell efficiency chart. 2020–04–06, available at website of nrel.gov
14
M F Lagadec, A Grimaud. Water electrolysers with closed and open electrochemical systems. Nature Materials, 2020, 19(11): 1140–1150 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41563-020-0788-3
15
K Ayers, N Danilovic, R Ouimet, et al.. Perspectives on low-temperature electrolysis and potential for renewable hydrogen at scale. Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, 2019, 10(1): 219–239 https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-060718-030241
16
J Luo, J H Im, M T Mayer, et al.. Water photolysis at 12.3% efficiency via perovskite photovoltaics and earth-abundant catalysts. Science, 2014, 345(6204): 1593–1596 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1258307
17
O Khaselev, J A Turner. A monolithic photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device for hydrogen production via water splitting. Science, 1998, 280(5362): 425–427 https://doi.org/10.1126/science.280.5362.425
18
J Jia, L C Seitz, J D Benck, et al.. Solar water splitting by photovoltaic-electrolysis with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency over 30%. Nature Communications, 2016, 7(1): 13237 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms13237
19
L Pan, J H Kim, M T Mayer, et al.. Boosting the performance of Cu2O photocathodes for unassisted solar water splitting devices. Nature Catalysis, 2018, 1(6): 412–420 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41929-018-0077-6
20
P Zhai, S Haussener, J Ager, et al.. Net primary energy balance of a solar-driven photoelectrochemical water-splitting device. Energy & Environmental Science, 2013, 6(8): 2380 https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ee40880a
21
K Sivula, R van de Krol. Semiconducting materials for photoelectrochemical energy conversion. Nature Reviews. Materials, 2016, 1(2): 15010 https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2015.10
22
S Zhang, Y He. Analysis on the development and policy of solar PV power in China. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2013, 21: 393–401 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2013.01.002
23
Y Alajlani, A Alaswad, F Placido, et al.. Inorganic thin film materials for solar cell applications. In: Reference Module in Materials Science and Materials Engineering. Amsterdam: Elsevier B. V., 2018
24
D Feldman, G Barbose, R Margolis, et al.. Photovoltaic (PV) pricing trends: historical, recent, and near-term projections. Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI), 2012
25
R J Detz, J N H Reek, B C C van der Zwaan. The future of solar fuels: when could they become competitive? Energy & Environmental Science, 2018, 11(7): 1653–1669 https://doi.org/10.1039/C8EE00111A
26
A Grimm, W A de Jong, G J Kramer. Renewable hydrogen production: a techno-economic comparison of photoelectrochemical cells and photovoltaic-electrolysis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2020, 45(43): 22545–22555 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2020.06.092
27
Z Wang, L Wang. Photoelectrode for water splitting: materials, fabrication and characterization. Science China Materials, 2018, 61(6): 806–821 https://doi.org/10.1007/s40843-018-9240-y
28
E Kabir, P Kumar, S Kumar, et al.. Solar energy: potential and future prospects. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2018, 82: 894–900 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.094
29
Y Kuang, Q Jia, G Ma, et al.. Ultrastable low-bias water splitting photoanodes via photocorrosion inhibition and in situ catalyst regeneration. Nature Energy, 2017, 2(1): 16191 https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.191
30
K P Bhandari, J M Collier, R J Ellingson, et al.. Energy payback time (EPBT) and energy return on energy invested (EROI) of solar photovoltaic systems: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2015, 47: 133–141 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.02.057
