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Enhanced solar water oxidation and unassisted water splitting using graphite-protected bulk heterojunction organic photoactive layers

Author

Listed:
  • Matyas Daboczi

    (Imperial College London
    HUN-REN Centre for Energy Research)

  • Flurin Eisner

    (Imperial College London
    Queen Mary University of London)

  • Joel Luke

    (Imperial College London)

  • Shi Wei Yuan

    (Imperial College London)

  • Noof Al Lawati

    (Imperial College London)

  • Maoqing Zhi

    (Imperial College London
    Imperial College London)

  • Mengya Yang

    (Imperial College London)

  • Jolanda Simone Müller

    (Imperial College London)

  • Katherine Stewart

    (Imperial College London)

  • Ji-Seon Kim

    (Imperial College London)

  • Jenny Nelson

    (Imperial College London)

  • Salvador Eslava

    (Imperial College London)

Abstract

Polymer donors and non-fullerene acceptors have played an important role as photoactive materials in the development of high-efficiency organic solar cells and have immense potential in devices for direct solar hydrogen generation. However, their use in direct solar water-splitting devices has been limited by their instability in aqueous environment and recombination losses at the interface with catalysts. Here we report anodes containing PM6:D18:L8-BO photoactive layers reaching high solar water oxidation photocurrent density over 25 mA cm−2 at +1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and days-long operational stability. This was achieved by integrating the organic photoactive layer with a graphite sheet functionalized with earth-abundant NiFeOOH water oxidation catalyst, which provides both water resistance and electrical connection between the catalyst and the photoactive layer without any losses. Using monolithic tandem anodes containing organic PM6:D18:L8-BO and PTQ10:GS-ISO photoactive layers, we achieve a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 5%. These results pave the way towards high-efficiency, stable and unassisted solar hydrogen generation by low-cost organic photoactive materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Matyas Daboczi & Flurin Eisner & Joel Luke & Shi Wei Yuan & Noof Al Lawati & Maoqing Zhi & Mengya Yang & Jolanda Simone Müller & Katherine Stewart & Ji-Seon Kim & Jenny Nelson & Salvador Eslava, 2025. "Enhanced solar water oxidation and unassisted water splitting using graphite-protected bulk heterojunction organic photoactive layers," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 10(5), pages 581-591, May.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:10:y:2025:i:5:d:10.1038_s41560-025-01736-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01736-6
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