Optical optimization considerations of a potential cell system for upscaled photoelectrochemical reactors
Loading...
Files
Accepted Version
Date
2026-06-26
Authors
Le Baron, E.
BĂ©rut, E.
Disdier , A.
Vidal, F.
O'Manachain, Ailbe
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Published Version
Abstract
The need for sustainable renewable energy is urgent, and harnessing solar energy to produce green hydrogen is promising. Hydrogen is a versatile energy carrier that can be stored and converted into various forms of energy. The FreeHydroCells project aims to create a novel, wireless tandem, monolithic photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell for water splitting, offering a cheap, efficient, and modular hydrogen-generating solution. However, scaling up PEC technology presents significant challenges, with performance losses occurring as systems reach industrial dimensions. Optimizing light energy capture and reducing parasitic light absorption are key to maximizing performance. This study investigates light attenuation in a monolithic PEC water-splitting system, providing guidance on material selection regarding optical properties, scalability, and cost. The assembled device was characterized using both laboratory-grade and portable spectrophotometers, showing a total transmitted flux of roughly 63%. A simple optical model underestimated the transmitted flux by 11%. The global optical efficiency of the device is estimated to be about 14%, but limited to 9% without a reflector. The study highlights substantial optical losses, approximately 33%, from the windows and electrolyte alone. These findings emphasize the importance of holistic optical design and rigorous experimental validation in developing scalable PEC systems.
Description
© 2026, the Author(s). Published under an exclusive license by AIP Publishing.
Keywords
SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy , SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure , Optical optimization , Photoelectrochemical reactors , Electro- and Photoelectrocatalysis , [TyndallMicroNano] , Scale-up
Citation
Le Baron, E, BĂ©rut, E, Disdier , A, Vidal, F & O'Manachain, A 2026, 'Optical optimization considerations of a potential cell system for upscaled photoelectrochemical reactors', Chemical Physics Reviews (CPR), vol. 7, no. 2, 021312, pp. 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0321719