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Applied Sciences
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Advanced Materials for Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion
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Advanced Materials for Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Materials Science and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4635

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Luis Alberto Estudillo-Wong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Bioscience and Engineering, CIIEMAD, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07340, Mexico
Interests: electrochemical energy sources; electrochemical water treatment; synthesis of materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Jorge Vazquez-Arenas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
CMP+L, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City 07340, Mexico
Interests: electrochemical energy sources; electrochemical water treatment; synthesis of materials

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a cornerstone electrochemical reaction used for splitting water into hydrogen fuel, a clean-burning energy source. Its significance is rapidly growing as we transition towards renewable energy sources. While platinum-group metals (PGMs) have been the gold-standard HER electrocatalyst, their scarcity and high cost hinder large-scale implementation. Therefore, developing highly active and earth-abundant alternatives remains a critical challenge.

On the other hand, photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting offers a particularly attractive approach for hydrogen production. It utilizes sunlight as an energy source, minimizing pollution during operation. During PEC processes, photocatalysts absorb solar energy, converting it into electrochemical energy that drives water splitting to produce hydrogen. Researchers have explored various photo-electro anode materials, including metal oxide semiconductors, perovskites, nitrides, chalcogenides, and transition-metal chalcogenides. However, achieving optimal stability and efficiency in these photoelectrode remains a key area of development.

To achieve this goal, the interaction between the catalytic center and substrate has been a focus of development. Researchers are strategically modifying the electronic properties of these centers through the design and execution of the synthesis route. This targeted manipulation aims to optimize the interaction between the catalyst and the hydrogen molecule, ultimately enhancing the efficiency of the HER process.

Prof. Dr. Luis Alberto Estudillo-Wong
Prof. Dr. Jorge Vazquez-Arenas
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • non-precious materials
  • nanomaterials
  • photoanode
  • synthesis route
  • HER
  • water splitting
  • strong interfacial interaction

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3358 KiB  
Article
Water-Soluble Sacrificial Layer of Sr3Al2O6 for the Synthesis of Free-Standing Doped Ceria and Strontium Titanate
by Simone Sanna, Olga Krymskaya and Antonello Tebano
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(4), 2192; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15042192 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 2236
Abstract
Epitaxial layers of water-soluble Sr3Al2O6 were fabricated as sacrificial layers on SrTiO3 (100) single-crystal substrates using the Pulsed Laser Deposition technique. This approach envisages the possibility of developing a new generation of micro-Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and [...] Read more.
Epitaxial layers of water-soluble Sr3Al2O6 were fabricated as sacrificial layers on SrTiO3 (100) single-crystal substrates using the Pulsed Laser Deposition technique. This approach envisages the possibility of developing a new generation of micro-Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and micro-Solid Oxide Electrochemical Cells for portable energy conversion and storage devices. The sacrificial layer technique offers a pathway to engineering free-standing membranes of electrolytes, cathodes, and anodes with total thicknesses on the order of a few nanometers. Furthermore, the ability to etch the SAO sacrificial layer and transfer ultra-thin oxide films from single-crystal substrates to silicon-based circuits opens possibilities for creating a novel class of mixed electronic and ionic devices with unexplored potential. In this work, we report the growth mechanism and structural characterization of the SAO sacrificial layer. Epitaxial samarium-doped ceria films, grown on SrTiO3 substrates using Sr3Al2O6 as a buffer layer, were successfully transferred onto silicon wafers. This demonstration highlights the potential of the sacrificial layer method for integrating high-quality oxide thin films into advanced device architectures, bridging the gap between oxide materials and silicon-based technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials for Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion)
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Review

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22 pages, 3584 KiB  
Review
Luminescent Materials for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells: Advances and Directions
by Emeka Harrison Onah, N. L. Lethole and P. Mukumba
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(20), 9202; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14209202 - 10 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2030
Abstract
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a type of thin-film solar cell that has been extensively studied for more than two decades due to their low manufacturing cost, flexibility and ability to operate under low-light conditions. However, there are some challenges that need to [...] Read more.
Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are a type of thin-film solar cell that has been extensively studied for more than two decades due to their low manufacturing cost, flexibility and ability to operate under low-light conditions. However, there are some challenges that need to be addressed, such as energy losses, material integration, weak photocurrent generation and stability, to enhance the performance of DSSCs. One of the approaches to enhance the performance of DSSCs is the use of luminescent materials. These are materials that can absorb light and re-emit at different wavelengths, allowing the conversion of ultraviolet (UV) and near-infrared (NIR) light, which DSSCs do not efficiently utilize, into visible light that can be absorbed. The main objective of this article is to provide an in-depth review of the impact of luminescent materials in DSSCs. Research interest on luminescent materials, particularly down conversion, up-conversion and quantum dots, was analyzed using data from the “Web of Science”. It revealed a remarkable number of over 200,000 publications in the past decade. Therefore, the state of the art of luminescent materials for enhancing the performance of the solar cells was reviewed, which showed significant potential in enhancing the performance of DSSCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Materials for Photoelectrochemical Energy Conversion)
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