Photoelectrochemical Systems for a Sustainable Future: Materials, Mechanisms, and Solar-to-Chemical Conversion

A Special Issue of Electrochem (ISSN 2673-3293).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027 | Viewed by 562

Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Chemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
Interests: electrochemistry; photoelectrochemical; semiconductor materials; electrocatalytic and photoelectrocatalytic conversion

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Photoelectrochemical systems have emerged as a powerful platform for converting solar energy into chemical fuels and value-added products, offering sustainable solutions to global energy and environmental challenges. By integrating light absorption with electrochemical processes, these systems enable efficient pathways for hydrogen production, CO2 reduction, solar-driven chemical synthesis, and a wide range of emerging solar-to-chemical conversion processes. Recent advances in semiconductor materials, catalyst design, and interfacial engineering have significantly enhanced performance, yet challenges remain in understanding fundamental mechanisms, improving stability, and achieving scalable systems.

This Special Issue aims to highlight recent progress in photoelectrochemical systems, with a focus on materials, mechanisms, and solar-to-chemical conversion processes. The scope aligns with Electrochem, which publishes high-quality research in electrochemical science and technologies, particularly in energy conversion and storage applications.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:  

  • Photoelectrochemical water splitting and hydrogen evolution;
  • CO2 reduction to fuels, chemicals, and carbon materials;
  • Solar-driven chemical synthesis and value-added products;
  • Nitrogen reduction and ammonia production;
  • Semiconductor materials and photoelectrode design;
  • Electrocatalysts and photoelectrocatalysts;
  • Charge transfer mechanisms and interface engineering;
  • Operando and in situ characterization techniques;
  • Stability, scalability, and system integration of PEC systems;
  • Hybrid systems integrating photoelectrochemistry with energy storage (e.g., batteries and supercapacitors);
  • Environmental applications, including pollutant degradation and water treatment. 

I look forward to receiving your contributions.  

Dr. Özlem Uguz Neli
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • photoelectrochemistry
  • solar-to-chemical conversion
  • solar fuels
  • CO2 reduction
  • hydrogen evolution
  • photoelectro-catalysis
  • semiconductor materials
  • energy conversion
  • interface engineering

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

55 pages, 6305 KB  
Review
CuInGaSe2 Thin-Film Electrodeposition Developments: A Comprehensive Review
by Mahfouz Saeed
Electrochem 2026, 7(3), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/electrochem7030024 - 21 Aug 2026
Viewed by 282
Abstract
Due to their remarkable long-term stability, variable bandgap, and relatively high absorption coefficient, copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar devices are among the most promising photovoltaic technologies due to their compatibility with lightweight substrates and special applications. This review critically discusses recent progress [...] Read more.
Due to their remarkable long-term stability, variable bandgap, and relatively high absorption coefficient, copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) solar devices are among the most promising photovoltaic technologies due to their compatibility with lightweight substrates and special applications. This review critically discusses recent progress in the electrodeposition-based fabrication of CISe/CIGSe absorber layers, with special focus on electrolyte chemistry, electrochemical deposition mechanisms, precursor composition and morphology, post-deposition selenization/sulfurization, absorber quality, and photovoltaic device performance. We discuss aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes, one-step and sequential electrodeposition, pulse-based deposition techniques, compositional control, film quality enhancement, Cd-free buffer layers, and large-area processing. The issues arising from the varied electrochemical behaviors of Cu, In, Ga, and Se are discussed, with specific emphasis on hydrogen evolution, limited integration of Ga, development of secondary phases, inhomogeneity of precursors, and process reproducibility. We review recent progress in device performance and explain typical manufacturing methods, and we summarise the key criteria for scaled electrodeposition. This review therefore sets up an integrated processing–structure–performance perspective for the further development of efficient and industrially relevant electrodeposited CIGSe solar cells. Full article
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