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

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

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Electrochem is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.

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