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Electric Field Effects on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Perspectives and Outlook

Author

Listed:
  • Stephanie J. Boyd

    (School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland)

  • Run Long

    (School of Chemistry, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China)

  • Niall J. English

    (School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin, D04 V1W8 Dublin, Ireland)

Abstract

The grand challenges in renewable energy lie in our ability to comprehend efficient energy conversion systems, together with dealing with the problem of intermittency via scalable energy storage systems. Relatively little progress has been made on this at grid scale and two overriding challenges still need to be addressed: (i) limiting damage to the environment and (ii) the question of environmentally friendly energy conversion. The present review focuses on a novel route for producing hydrogen, the ultimate clean fuel, from the Sun, and renewable energy source. Hydrogen can be produced by light-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting, but it is very inefficient; rather, we focus here on how electric fields can be applied to metal oxide/water systems in tailoring the interplay with their intrinsic electric fields, and in how this can alter and boost PEC activity, drawing both on experiment and non-equilibrium molecular simulation.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie J. Boyd & Run Long & Niall J. English, 2022. "Electric Field Effects on Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: Perspectives and Outlook," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-16, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:4:p:1553-:d:753593
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    References listed on IDEAS

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