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Revisiting solar hydrogen production through photovoltaic-electrocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting

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Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is regarded as a promising way for solar hydrogen production, while the fast development of photovoltaic-electrolysis (PV-EC) has pushed PEC research into an embarrassed situation. In this paper, a comparison of PEC and PV-EC in terms of efficiency, cost, and stability is conducted and briefly discussed. It is suggested that the PEC should target on high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency based on cheap semiconductors in order to maintain its role in the technological race of sustainable hydrogen production.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council through its Discovery Programs, DECRA and Laureate Fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nanomaterials Centre, School of Chemical Engineering and Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia

    Zhiliang Wang, Yuang Gu & Lianzhou Wang

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  1. Zhiliang Wang
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  2. Yuang Gu
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  3. Lianzhou Wang
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Correspondence to Zhiliang Wang or Lianzhou Wang.

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Wang, Z., Gu, Y. & Wang, L. Revisiting solar hydrogen production through photovoltaic-electrocatalytic and photoelectrochemical water splitting. Front. Energy 15, 596–599 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-021-0745-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-021-0745-0

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