Light-driven bioinspired water splitting: Recent developments in photoelectrode materials

The field of artificial photosynthesis aiming at storing solar energy in the form of the fuel hydrogen through water splitting is a matter of intense research currently. It is now conceivable to assemble a molecular-based photo-electrochemical cell in which light-driven water oxidation to oxygen occurs at the photoanode and reduction of water to hydrogen at the cathode. This implies the parallel development of: (i) efficient and stable electrocatalysts, based on non-noble metals, for accelerating the multi-electronic processes at work at each electrode; (ii) efficient and stable photosensitizers for absorbing visible light and generating a charge separation state with redox potentials compatible with water splitting. Here we describe the recent achievements on the way to the assembly of such electrode materials.