Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water Splitting
Hydrogen production through solar-driven water splitting is a promising approach and an alternative to the conventional steam reforming of natural gas and coal gasification. The growing energy demand and environmental degradation through carbon-emitting fossil fuels urge a transition in the usage of...
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MDPI AG
2022-10-01
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| Series: | Catalysts |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/10/1198 |
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| author | Mohit Kumar Bhagatram Meena Palyam Subramanyam Duvvuri Suryakala Challapalli Subrahmanyam |
| author_facet | Mohit Kumar Bhagatram Meena Palyam Subramanyam Duvvuri Suryakala Challapalli Subrahmanyam |
| author_sort | Mohit Kumar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Hydrogen production through solar-driven water splitting is a promising approach and an alternative to the conventional steam reforming of natural gas and coal gasification. The growing energy demand and environmental degradation through carbon-emitting fossil fuels urge a transition in the usage of non-renewable to renewable sources of energy. The photocathodes in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting cell are essential for the direct evolution of hydrogen. Among the known photocathodes, Cu-based p-type semiconducting materials are the most promising photo-absorber materials owing to their low-cost, low toxicity, natural abundance, suitable bandgaps, and favorable band edges for reduction. Moreover, the chemical stability and the rate of recombination significantly limit the longevity, the PEC performance, and practical applicability of Cu-based photocathodes. To overcome these problems, it is critical to have a thorough understanding of the constraints, improvement strategies, and an assessment of current developments in order to construct and design highly stable and efficient photocathodes. Here, in this review we have summarized the development of Cu-based metal oxide and sulfide photocathodes with the significant operational challenges and strategies that have successfully been employed to enhance the PEC performance. Furthermore, the emphasis is placed on recent reports and future perspectives regarding emerging challenges. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:30:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b3dc211a6309429a9bcf8c3870023167 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4344 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T20:30:24Z |
| publishDate | 2022-10-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b3dc211a6309429a9bcf8c38700231672023-11-23T23:25:16ZengMDPI AGCatalysts2073-43442022-10-011210119810.3390/catal12101198Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water SplittingMohit Kumar0Bhagatram Meena1Palyam Subramanyam2Duvvuri Suryakala3Challapalli Subrahmanyam4Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad 502285, Telangana, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad 502285, Telangana, IndiaResearch Institute for Electronic Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 001-0020, Hokkaido, JapanDepartment of Chemistry, GITAM University, Visakhapatnam 530045, Andhra Pradesh, IndiaDepartment of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Hyderabad 502285, Telangana, IndiaHydrogen production through solar-driven water splitting is a promising approach and an alternative to the conventional steam reforming of natural gas and coal gasification. The growing energy demand and environmental degradation through carbon-emitting fossil fuels urge a transition in the usage of non-renewable to renewable sources of energy. The photocathodes in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting cell are essential for the direct evolution of hydrogen. Among the known photocathodes, Cu-based p-type semiconducting materials are the most promising photo-absorber materials owing to their low-cost, low toxicity, natural abundance, suitable bandgaps, and favorable band edges for reduction. Moreover, the chemical stability and the rate of recombination significantly limit the longevity, the PEC performance, and practical applicability of Cu-based photocathodes. To overcome these problems, it is critical to have a thorough understanding of the constraints, improvement strategies, and an assessment of current developments in order to construct and design highly stable and efficient photocathodes. Here, in this review we have summarized the development of Cu-based metal oxide and sulfide photocathodes with the significant operational challenges and strategies that have successfully been employed to enhance the PEC performance. Furthermore, the emphasis is placed on recent reports and future perspectives regarding emerging challenges.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/10/1198photocathodeH<sub>2</sub> productionPECcocatalystsolar harvesting |
| spellingShingle | Mohit Kumar Bhagatram Meena Palyam Subramanyam Duvvuri Suryakala Challapalli Subrahmanyam Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water Splitting Catalysts photocathode H<sub>2</sub> production PEC cocatalyst solar harvesting |
| title | Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water Splitting |
| title_full | Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water Splitting |
| title_fullStr | Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water Splitting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water Splitting |
| title_short | Emerging Copper-Based Semiconducting Materials for Photocathodic Applications in Solar Driven Water Splitting |
| title_sort | emerging copper based semiconducting materials for photocathodic applications in solar driven water splitting |
| topic | photocathode H<sub>2</sub> production PEC cocatalyst solar harvesting |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4344/12/10/1198 |
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