Molecular Organic Sensitizers for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

• Published in: European journal of inorganic chemistry 2020-03, Vol.2020 (11-12), p.978-999
• Main Authors: Decavoli, Cristina, Boldrini, Chiara Liliana, Manfredi, Norberto, Abbotto, Alessandro
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Artificial photosynthesis; Clean fuels; Coordination compounds; Dyes; Hydrogen; Inorganic chemistry; Organic dyes; Photocathodes; Photoelectrochemical devices; Solar energy; Solar radiation; Water splitting
• ISSN: 1434-1948; 1099-0682
• DOI: 10.1002/ejic.202000026

The photoelectrochemical approach to photoinduced water splitting is gaining increasing interest for solar fuels generation. Dye‐sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (DS‐PEC) have been studied to improve the collection of the Vis range of solar radiation. Metal complexes have so far been the most investigated dyes but in recent years metal‐free organic dyes have emerged as a new frontier for the evolution of the sector. This Minireview systematically describes the use of organic sensitizers and has been organized in terms of dye‐sensitized photoactive electrode(s): photoanode; photocathode; tandem DS‐PEC with photoanode and photocathode. The main classes of dyes are introduced and described in their key properties, device performance, and water splitting data. Thanks to the increasing number of articles, this review highlights the growing importance of organic sensitizers and their molecular design for a more efficient solar generation of clean fuels. Molecular photosensitizers are gaining increasing importance in sunlight‐induced artificial synthesis processes, such as water splitting, by the photoelectrochemical approach. In recent years, metal‐free organic dyes have emerged as a new frontier for the evolution of the sector thanks to their wide structural variety and key properties, for a more efficient solar generation of clean fuels.