Surface Modification for Enhanced Photoelectrocatalytic Activity

Dear Colleagues,

The photoelectrochemical reformation of renewable biomass-derived molecules into valuable chemical feedstocks and fuels represents a green and sustainable synthetic alternative to its conventional synthetic counterparts. This photoelectrochemical process involves three main steps, including light-harvesting to generate electron-hole charge carriers, transport of charge carriers within the bulk of light-absorbing material, and interfacial transfer of minority charge carriers across the photoelectrode/electrolyte interface for the desired reactions. To facilitate the kinetics of surface reaction and tune the reaction pathway, the surface modification of a photoelectrode with a suitable catalytic layer is often required.

This Special Issue aims to cover the most recent progress and advances in surface modification and surface engineering for the enhanced performance of photoelectrochemical devices in solar fuel generation. This includes, but is not limited to, the methods and relevant growth mechanisms for surface modification of the electrocatalytic layer (e.g., electrodeposition, chemical bath deposition, spray coating), surface characterization techniques, understanding of the mechanisms behind the enhancement of photoelectrocatalytic activity by the deposited catalytic layer (e.g., kinetics of interfacial charge transfer), and the photoelectrochemical applications of surface-modified photoelectrodes (e.g., water splitting, CO₂ reduction, and reforming of organics). 

Prof. Dr. Chia-Yu Lin
Guest Editor

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• coating
• photoelectrocatalysis
• solar fuels
• surface characterization
• surface modification