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Bridging Scales in Solar-Driven Water Splitting: Pathways to System Integration
Chengyang Feng1,2, Miao Hu1,2, Jumanah Alharbi1,2
1Center for Renewable Energy and Storage Technologies (CREST), Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 1, 2025
Summary
Artificial photosynthesis using particulate photocatalysts offers a promising route for sustainable energy storage. Enhancing photocatalyst performance is key to achieving efficient solar water splitting for carbon neutrality.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Photocatalysis
Background:
- Artificial photosynthesis converts solar energy to chemical energy, crucial for sustainable development and carbon neutrality.
- Solar-driven water splitting using particulate photocatalysts is a key strategy for solar energy storage.
- Current photocatalytic water splitting systems lack the efficiency for practical applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review factors limiting photocatalyst activity in overall water splitting.
- To summarize design strategies for enhancing photocatalyst performance.
- To discuss scalability and future commercialization of solar water splitting systems.
Main Methods:
- Review of fundamental research and practical applications in particulate photocatalyst-based water splitting.
- Analysis of design strategies including bandgap regulation, plasmon resonance, morphology control, facet engineering, heterostructures, cocatalysts, and external-field association.
- Discussion on scalability and commercialization perspectives.
Main Results:
- Identified key limitations in current photocatalyst activity for water splitting.
- Highlighted various design and modification strategies to improve photocatalyst efficiency.
- Examined the scalability of particulate photocatalysts for solar water splitting.
Conclusions:
- High-performance photocatalysts and optimized systems are essential for practical solar water splitting.
- Advanced strategies offer pathways to overcome current performance barriers.
- Further development is needed for commercial viability of solar water splitting technologies.
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