Copper ternary oxides as photocathodes for solar-driven CO₂ reduction

Abstract The sun’s energy, though free and virtually limitless, is a largely unexploited resource, as its conversion into storable form presents several technological challenges. A promising way of capturing storing solar energy in the “solar fuels,” process termed artificial photosynthesis. In photoelectrochemical (PEC) system, reduction CO 2 to carbon-based fuels driven on surface an illuminated semiconductor electrode. Through decades, many different classes semiconducting materials have been studied for this purpose, varying successes. Because their cheap abundant nature, transition metal oxides are good candidates realize technology economic scale thus attracted considerable research attention. review article, progress achieved with specific class oxides, namely, copper ternary such iron oxide bismuth oxide, PEC examined. Although there significant advances terms strategies improve efficiency stability these materials, further studies warranted address challenges fuel production.