UC Berkeley

Artificial photosynthesis offers a route to producing clean fuel energy. However, the large thermodynamic requirement for water splitting along with the corresponding sluggish kinetics for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) limits its current practical application. Here, we offer an alternative approach by replacing the OER with the glycerol oxidation reaction (GOR) for value-added chemicals. By using a Si photoanode, a low GOR onset potential of -0.05 V vs RHE and a photocurrent density of 10 mA/cm² at 0.5 V vs RHE can be reached. Coupled with a Si nanowire photocathode for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), the integrated system yields a high photocurrent density of 6 mA/cm² with no applied bias under 1 sun illumination and can run for over 4 days under diurnal illumination. The demonstration of the GOR-HER integrated system provides a framework for designing bias-free photoelectrochemical devices at appreciable currents and establishes a facile approach to artificial photosynthesis.