Solar photoelectrolysis with semiconductor electrodes

Abstract

With the exception of water power and wind energy, all our traditional energy resources are the product of photosynthesis. Since the energy conversion in photosynthesis is an electrochemical process, namely a redox reaction of excited chlorophyll molecules, many attempts have been made to develop devices for solar energy conversion along similar lines. It turns out, however, that the efficiency of artificial systems of this kind is very limited, and the prospects of developing more efficient and durable systems appears to be very low. The principle disadvantage is the limited light absorption of a thin layer with photoactive dye molecules such as the thylacoid membrane of a plant.