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Photoelectrode Durability in Two- versus Three-Electrode Configurations: Understanding the Impact of Circuit
Mitchell J Hansen1,2, James L Young2, Myles A Steiner2
1Advanced Energy Systems Graduate Program, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States.
ACS Energy Letters
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Evaluating photoelectrochemical (PEC) device durability requires careful consideration of test configurations. Three-electrode (3E) tests can overestimate stability compared to two-electrode (2E) setups due to unmeasured bias effects.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Device durability is a major hurdle in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting.
- Current testing configurations and bias effects lack thorough understanding, hindering progress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To differentiate the impacts of two-electrode (2E) and three-electrode (3E) configurations on PEC material durability.
- To analyze the influence of applied bias on photoabsorber solid-state operating conditions and degradation.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of 2E and 3E test configurations for PEC durability.
- Investigation of photoabsorber operating voltage effects on stability and degradation mechanisms.
Main Results:
- 3E configurations can overestimate photoelectrode stability compared to 2E (short-circuit) conditions.
- Unmeasured bias in 3E tests significantly moderates material degradation.
- Photoabsorber operating voltage is critical for charge separation, surface stability, and degradation pathways.
Conclusions:
- Inferring 2E device stability solely from 3E measurements is unreliable.
- A standardized framework for 3E durability tests simulating unassisted performance is proposed.
- This framework aims to accelerate the development of stable materials for solar water splitting.
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