Work

Red Light-Powered Nanowire Photochemical Diodes for Unassisted Hydrogen Evolution and Glycerol Valorization

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Artificial photosynthesis via unassisted photochemical diodes is a promising approach for generating solar fuels. However, photoelectrochemical systems often degrade under solar diurnal cycling, and reliance on solar insolation exacerbates land use. Narrow-band LED illumination offers continuous and constant operation, enabling the vertical integration of stable photochemical diodes. In this study, 740 nm red light was investigated as the illumination source for silicon-based photochemical diodes integrating the hydrogen evolution reaction with the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR), where replacing the oxygen evolution reaction with GOR increases attainable bias-free photocurrents. Increasing photovoltages, saturation current densities, and power conversion efficiencies were observed with increasing incident red light intensity. Under a red light intensity of 60 mW cm –2, these systems are stable above 7.5 mA cm –2 for 6 days with periodic electrolyte refreshing. These results offer a promising prospect for red light-powered photochemical diodes that integrate other significant reduction reactions, such as CO 2 reduction.

Source: ACS Energy Letters

DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.5c02917

Authors: Andrew Liu, Wonseok Lee, Jia-An Lin, Yu Shan, Jimin Kim, Peidong Yang

Institutions: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute

Language: English

Topic: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques

Subfield: Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Field: Energy

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Affordable and clean energy

Open Access status: green