Open AccessArtificial Photosynthesis with Semiconductor–Liquid Junctions
Author(s) -
Néstor Guijarro,
Florian Le Formal,
Kevin Sivula
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
chimia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2673-2424
pISSN - 0009-4293
DOI - 10.2533/chimia.2015.30
Subject(s) - artificial photosynthesis , nanotechnology , sustainable energy , solar energy , semiconductor , interface (matter) , field (mathematics) , scale (ratio) , solar fuel , engineering physics , computer science , materials science , photocatalysis , engineering , electrical engineering , chemistry , physics , renewable energy , biochemistry , mathematics , quantum mechanics , pure mathematics , catalysis , bubble , maximum bubble pressure method , parallel computing
Given the urgent need to develop a sustainable, carbon neutral energy storage system on a global scale, intense efforts are currently underway to advance the field of artificial photosynthesis: i.e. solar fuel engineering. In this review we give an overview of the field of artificial photosynthesis using a semiconductor–electrolyte interface employed in a photoelectrochemical device or as a heterogeneous photocatalyst. First we present a basic description of the operation principles of a semiconductor–liquid junction based device. The role of nanotechnology in the recent advances in the field is highlighted and common material systems under current study are briefly reviewed. The importance of the material surfaces are further scrutinized by presenting recent advances in interfacial engineering. Technical challenges and an outlook towards industrialization of the technology are given.