Affiliation:
1. Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
2. Optoelectronics Group Cavendish Laboratory University of Cambridge JJ Thomson Avenue Cambridge CB3 0HE UK
3. Department of Chemistry and Centre for Processable Electronics Imperial College London London W12 0BZ UK
4. Department of Chemistry Education Graduate Department of Chemical Materials Institute for Plastic Information and Energy Materials Sustainable Utilization of Photovoltaic Energy Research Center Pusan National University Busan 46241 Republic of Korea
Abstract
AbstractPhotoelectrochemical (PEC) devices offer a promising platform toward direct solar light harvesting and chemical storage through artificial photosynthesis. However, most prototypes employ wide bandgap semiconductors, moisture‐sensitive inorganic light absorbers, or corrosive electrolytes. Here, the design and assembly of PEC devices based on an organic donor‐acceptor bulk heterojunction (BHJ) using a carbon‐based encapsulant are introduced, which demonstrate long‐term H2 evolution and CO2 reduction in benign aqueous media. Accordingly, PCE10:EH‐IDTBR photocathodes display long‐term H2 production for 300 h in a near‐neutral pH solution, whereas photocathodes with a molecular CO2 reduction catalyst attain a CO:H2 selectivity of 5.41±0.53 under 0.1 sun irradiation. Their early onset potential enables the construction of tandem PCE10:EH‐IDTBR – BiVO4 artificial leaves, which couple unassisted syngas production with O2 evolution in a reactor completely powered by sunlight, sustaining a 1:1 ratio of CO to H2 over 96 h of operation.
Funder
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council