Water-oxidation photoanodes using organic light-harvesting materials: a review

Abstract

Solar energy conversion and storage by photoelectrochemical water splitting has garnered significant research attention in recent years. While the majority of water-splitting systems are composed of inorganic semiconductor light-harvesting materials, an increasing amount of research has studied the use of earth-abundant organic semiconductors and dyes as an inexpensive alternative. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review of published water-oxidizing photoanodes that employ organic light-harvesting materials, including both organic thin-film and dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cell architectures. We highlight the different materials that have been employed, summarize recent advancements, and provide insights for future improvements of device efficiencies and stabilities.