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A scalable solar-driven photocatalytic system for separated H2 and O2 production from water

Author

Listed:
  • Hui Fu

    (Shandong University)

  • Yaqiang Wu

    (Nagoya University)

  • Yuhao Guo

    (Shandong University)

  • Takuya Sakurai

    (Nagoya University)

  • Qianqian Zhang

    (Shandong University)

  • Yuanyuan Liu

    (Shandong University)

  • Zhaoke Zheng

    (Shandong University)

  • Hefeng Cheng

    (Shandong University)

  • Zeyan Wang

    (Shandong University)

  • Baibiao Huang

    (Shandong University)

  • Qian Wang

    (Nagoya University
    Nagoya University)

  • Kazunari Domen

    (Shinshu University
    The University of Tokyo)

  • Peng Wang

    (Shandong University)

Abstract

Solar-driven photocatalytic water splitting offers a sustainable pathway to produce green hydrogen, yet its practical application encounters several challenges including inefficient photocatalysts, sluggish water oxidation, severe reverse reactions and the necessity of separating produced hydrogen and oxygen gases. Herein, we design and develop a photocatalytic system composed of two separate reaction parts: a hydrogen evolution cell containing halide perovskite photocatalysts (MoSe2-loaded CH(NH2)2PbBr3-xIx) and an oxygen evolution cell containing NiFe-layered double hydroxide modified BiVO4 photocatalysts. These components are bridged by a I3−/I− redox couple to facilitate electron transfer, realizing efficient overall water splitting with a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 2.47 ± 0.03%. Additionally, an outdoor scaled-up setup of 692.5 cm2 achieves an average solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 1.21% during a week-long test under natural sunlight. By addressing major limitations inherent in conventional photocatalytic systems, such as the cooccurrence of hydrogen and oxygen in a single cell and the resultant severe reverse reactions from hydrogen and oxygen recombination, this work introduces an alternative concept for photocatalytic system design, which enhances both efficiency and practicality.

Suggested Citation

  • Hui Fu & Yaqiang Wu & Yuhao Guo & Takuya Sakurai & Qianqian Zhang & Yuanyuan Liu & Zhaoke Zheng & Hefeng Cheng & Zeyan Wang & Baibiao Huang & Qian Wang & Kazunari Domen & Peng Wang, 2025. "A scalable solar-driven photocatalytic system for separated H2 and O2 production from water," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-56314-x
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-56314-x
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