In pursuit of sustainable and stable materials for photoelectrochemical fuel production
Sudhanshu Shukla 1 , Daniely Reis Santos 2 , Irene Dei Tos 2 , Abraham Solomon Kasa 2 1 Imec, Imo-imomec, Energyville, Thor Park 8320, 3600, Genk, Belgium, 2 Hasselt University, Institute for Materials Research (imo-imomec), Martelarenlaan 42, B-3500 Hasselt, Belgium Photoelectrochemical sunlight-to-energy conversion requires sustainable and stable semiconducting absorbers with suitable bandgap and optoelectronic properties. High performing PEC devices demand specific bandgaps and their combinations for maximum utilization of solar spectrum. However, the current paradigm is dominated by metal oxides, which have rather high bandgaps and transport limitations. In this work, we will present our research group activities on some emerging photocathode/anode systems that exhibit favorable properties with suitable bandgaps optimum for single and tandem PEC devices. Specific examples mainly include - Sb 2 S 3, Cu(In,Ga)S 2 , Cu 3 BiS 3 , g-C 3 N 4 materials and PEC devices for cathodic (HER, CO2R) and anodic (OER, AOR) reactions. Key questions and bottlenecks that requires focused attention to advance these systems will be discussed. References 1. Tos, I., et al., Elucidating Carrier Dynamics and Interface Engineering in Sb 2 S 3 : Toward Efficient Photoanode for Water Oxidation. ChemSusChem, 2025, 2402764. 2. Prabhakar, R.R., et al.,Origin of photoelectrochemical CO2 reduction on bare Cu(In,Ga)S 2 (CIGS) thin films in aqueous media without co-catalysts. EES Catalysis, 2025. 3 (2), 327-336. 3. Santos, D., et al.,Prospects of copper–bismuth chalcogenide absorbers for photovoltaics and photoelectrocatalysis. J. Mater Chem A, 2023, 11, 22087-22104.
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© The Author(s), 2025
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