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Semiconductors for Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Solar Water Splitting

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From Molecules to Materials

Abstract

The fossil energy resources upon which we are heavily dependent will inevitably be depleted in the not-so-distant future. Solar energy may be the best and perhaps only choice for meeting long-term human energy needs. Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting are ideal approaches to the conversion of solar energy into clean chemical energy H2, an excellent energy carrier. In this chapter, basic concepts including thermodynamics and experimental methods of photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry were introduced. As an important aspect of this research, the design of visible-light-driven semiconducting materials was discussed. Then, we summarized recent advancements in photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting, as well as the current understanding of the mechanisms of these reactions.

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Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Grant-in-Aids for Specially Promoted Research (no. 23000009) and for Young Scientists (B) (no. 25810112) of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Artificial Photosynthesis Project of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan.

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  1. Department of Chemical System Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan

    Guijun Ma, Takashi Hisatomi & Kazunari Domen

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  1. Guijun Ma
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  2. Takashi Hisatomi
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  3. Kazunari Domen
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Correspondence to Kazunari Domen .

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  1. Center for Nanoscale Materials, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, Illinois, USA

    Elena A. Rozhkova

  2. Supermolecules Unit Research Center for Materials Nanoarchit, National Institute for Materials Science, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Katsuhiko Ariga

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Ma, G., Hisatomi, T., Domen, K. (2015). Semiconductors for Photocatalytic and Photoelectrochemical Solar Water Splitting. In: Rozhkova, E., Ariga, K. (eds) From Molecules to Materials. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13800-8_1

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