Morphology engineering of photoelectrodes for efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical solar water splitting is a promising method for harvesting clean and sustainable solar energy by the carbon emission-free production of energy-rich hydrogen. Various strategies such as nanostructuring, composite engineering, and multilayer formation have been adopted for energy-efficient photoelectrode preparation, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the efficiency of energy harvesting and storage via the photoelectrochemical water-splitting reaction. This review summarizes recent advances in the abovementioned strategies for fabricating water-splitting photoelectrodes and outlines relationships between the structure, composition, and electrochemical properties of such photoelectrodes. Our aim is to help readers become cognizant of recent developments in the field, providing them with a distinct perspective for carrying out innovative work on photoelectrode preparation.