Materials for photoelectrochemical energy conversion

The main driving forces of the hydrogen economy are considered and its impact on the environment is discussed. The present work is focused on hydrogen generation from water using solar energy through photoelectrochemical energy conversion. Progress in this area, which is determined by the development of photosensitive materials and devices, is overviewed. The effect of materials selection and cell structures on the performance of photoelectrochemical cells is discussed. It is argued that TiO₂ and TiO₂ based oxide systems exhibit the most promising functional properties and, therefore, are the top candidates for photoelectrodes. The major challenges in the development of commercial photoelectrodes and photoelectrochemical energy conversion devices are discussed.