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"Electricity"-Assisted Catalytic Solar-to-Fuel Processes.
Pengwei Jia1, Yutang Yu1, Tong Chen1
1Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education for Geological Carbon Storage and Low Carbon Utilization of Resources, Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, National Laboratory of Mineral Materials, School of Materials Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|May 12, 2025
Summary
Electricity-assisted solar-to-fuel catalysis offers a dual-path framework for sustainable energy. This approach enhances charge separation and optimizes carrier dynamics for efficient fuel production.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Sustainable energy systems rely on efficient solar-to-fuel conversion.
- Challenges in carrier dynamics and reaction selectivity impede practical applications.
- Electricity-assisted solar-to-fuel catalysis presents a promising solution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review "electricity" assisted solar-to-fuel catalysis.
- To propose a dual-path framework: Cross-Space Charge Transfer and Local Electric Field Regulation.
- To elucidate the mechanisms and principles of electrical intervention in solar fuel synthesis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of charge transfer mechanisms in photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) systems (single photoelectrode PEC, PEC-PEC, PV-PEC, PV-EC).
- Investigation of static (ferroelectric, interface) and dynamic (piezoelectric, pyroelectric, flexoelectric, triboelectric) electric fields.
- Systematic summary of diverse electrical interventions and their impact on solar-to-fuel catalysis.
Main Results:
- External bias enhances charge separation in single photoelectrode PEC.
- Self-powered PEC systems utilize photogenerated potential for zero-energy conversion.
- Intrinsic and induced electric fields optimize carrier transport and reactant adsorption.
- Diverse electrical strategies significantly promote solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency.
Conclusions:
- The dual-path framework provides a comprehensive understanding of electrical assistance in solar-to-fuel catalysis.
- Material design principles and solutions for performance bottlenecks are identified.
- This review offers insights for advancing sustainable solar fuel technologies.
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