Nanocarbon-Enhanced 2D Photoelectrodes: A New Paradigm in Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Nano-Micro Letters

Jie Liu¹  Siliu Lyu²  Bin Yang²  Fan He²  Zhongjian Li²  Qinghua Zhang²  Lecheng Lei²  Yang Hou²  Jun Ke²  Hui Wu³  Kostya Ostrikov⁴  Jian Chen⁵ 

[1]Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University

[2]Key Laboratory of Biomass Chemical Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University

[3]School of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan Institute of Technology

[4]School of Chemistry and Physics and Centre for Materials Science, Queensland University of Technology

[5]State Key Laboratory of Industrial Control Technology, College of Control Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University

关键词: Advanced nanocarbons;    Co-catalysts;    2D layered structure;    Integrated photoelectrodes;    Photoelectrochemical water splitting;   

DOI  :  10.1007/s40820-020-00545-8

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting systems are highly promising for converting solar energy into clean and sustainable chemical energy. In such PEC systems, an integrated photoelectrode incorporates a light harvester for absorbing solar energy, an interlayer for transporting photogenerated charge carriers, and a co-catalyst for triggering redox reactions. Thus, understanding the correlations between the intrinsic structural properties and functions of the photoelectrodes is crucial. Here we critically examine various 2D layered photoanodes/photocathodes, including graphitic carbon nitrides, transition metal dichalcogenides, layered double hydroxides, layered bismuth oxyhalide nanosheets, and MXenes, combined with advanced nanocarbons (carbon dots, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphdiyne) as co-catalysts to assemble integrated photoelectrodes for oxygen evolution/hydrogen evolution reactions. The fundamental principles of PEC water splitting and physicochemical properties of photoelectrodes and the associated catalytic reactions are analyzed. Elaborate strategies for the assembly of 2D photoelectrodes with nanocarbons to enhance the PEC performances are introduced. The mechanisms of interplay of 2D photoelectrodes and nanocarbon co-catalysts are further discussed. The challenges and opportunities in the field are identified to guide future research for maximizing the conversion efficiency of PEC water splitting.

【 授权许可】

Unknown