Strategies for Semiconductor/Electrocatalyst Coupling toward Solar-Driven Water Splitting.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Renewable Energy
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Global energy transition requires low-carbon hydrogen (H₂) production.
• Current H₂ production relies heavily on fossil fuels.
• Decarbonized H₂ production is crucial for sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline how electrocatalyst coupling influences photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance.
• To review strategies for coupling semiconductors with electrocatalysts for water splitting.
• To guide the design of efficient and stable semiconductor photoelectrodes.

Main Methods:

• Focus on semiconductor/electrocatalyst coupling strategies.
• Review of dry and wet chemical approaches for material integration.
• Analysis of catalyst loading effects on photoelectrode performance.

Main Results:

• Electrocatalyst loading accelerates hydrogen/oxygen evolution reactions (HER/OER).
• Catalyst coupling suppresses surface recombination and reduces overpotentials.
• Optimized coupling extends the operational lifetime of semiconductor photoelectrodes.

Conclusions:

• Electrocatalyst coupling is vital for efficient PEC water splitting.
• Advanced coupling methodologies are essential for high-performance photoelectrodes.
• This review serves as a guideline for developing next-generation PEC devices for H₂ generation.