Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Review Article
  • Published:

Limiting and realizable efficiencies of solar photolysis of water

Abstract

A critical analysis of various schemes for the solar photolysis of water into hydrogen and oxygen places ideal limits on their efficiencies. Single-bandgap schemes will have practical efficiencies of up to 10%, but the prospects of higher efficiencies from dual-bandgap schemes are encouraging.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bolton, J. R. Science 202, 705–711 (1978).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Heidt, L. J. Proc. Am. Acad. Arts Sci. 79, 228–235 (1951).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Fujishima, A. & Honda, K. Nature 238, 37–38 (1972).

    Article  ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Calvert, J. G. in Introduction to the Utilization of Solar Energy (eds Zarem, A. M. & Erway, D. D.) 190–210 (McGraw Hill, New York, 1963).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Marcus, R. J. Science 123, 399–405 (1956).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Archer, M. D. Spec. Per. Rep. Chem. Soc. 11, 615–642 (1980).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Archer, M. D. J Inst. Fuel 51, 100–108 (1978).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Balzani, V., Moggi, L., Manfrin, M. F., Bolletta, F. & Gleria, M. Science 189, 852–856 (1975).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Porter, G. & Archer, M. D. Interdisc. Sci. Rev. 1, 119–143 (1976).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Bolton, J. R. & Hall, D. O. A. Rev. Energy 4, 349–397 (1979).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Grätzel, M. in Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (ed. Connolly, J. S.) 131–160 (Academic, New York, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  12. Grätzel, M. Acct. Chem. Res. 14, 376–384 (1982).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Lichtin, N. N. Chemtech 10, 252–260 (1980).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rabani, J. in Energy Storage, Trans. 1st Int. Assem. (ed. Silverman, J.) 46–59 (Pergamon, Oxford, 1980).

    Google Scholar 

  15. Gray, H. B. & Maverick, A. W. Science 214, 1201–1205 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Lehn, J.-M. in Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (ed. Connolly, J. S.) 161–200 (Academic, New York, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  17. Gerischer, H. in Solar Power and Fuels (ed. Bolton, J. R.) 77–112 (Academic, New York, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bard, A. J. Science 207, 139–144 (1980).

    ADS  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Nozik, A. J. in Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (ed. Connolly, J. S.) 271–291 (Academic, New York, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  20. Heller, A. Acct. Chem. Res. 14, 154–162 (1981).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Shockley, W. & Queisser, H. J. J. appl. Phys. 32, 510–519 (1961).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ross, R. T. J. chem. Phys. 45, 1–7 (1966).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ross, R. T. J chem. Phys. 46, 4590–4593 (1967).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Ross, R. T. & Calvin, M. Biophys. J. 7, 595–614 (1967).

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Ross, R. T. & Hsiao, T.-L. J. appl. Phys. 48, 4783–4785 (1977).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Haught, A. F. J. sol. Energy Engng 106, 3–15 (1984).

    Google Scholar 

  27. Bolton, J. R., Haught, A. F. & Ross, R. T. in Photochemical Conversion and Storage of Solar Energy (ed. Connolly, J. S.) 297–339 (Academic, New York, 1981).

    Google Scholar 

  28. Porter, G. JCS Faraday Trans. II 79, 473–482 (1983).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Ross, R. T. & Nozik, A. J. J. appl. Phys. 53, 3813–3818 (1982).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Henderson, S. T. Daylight and its Spectrum 2nd edn, 349 (Hilger, Bristol, (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Buhl, M. L. Jr, Bird, R. E., Bilchak, R. V., Connolly, J. S. & Bolton, J. R. Sol. Energy 32, 75–84 (1984).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Bird, R. E., Hulstrom, R. L. & Lewis, L. J. Sol. Energy 30, 563–573 (1983).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Wrighton, M. S. et al. J. Am. chem. Soc. 98, 2774–2779 (1976).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Watanabe, T., Fujishima, A. & Honda, K. Bull. chem. Soc. Japan 49, 355–358 (1976).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Mavroides, J. G., Kafalas, J. A. & Kolesar, D. F. Appl. Phys. Lett. 28, 241–243 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Kilby, J. S., Lanthrop, J. A. & Porter, W. A. US Patent No. 4,021,323 (1977).

  37. Johnson, E. L. Proc. 16th Intersoc. Energy Conv. Engng. Conf. 1, 798 (1981).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Johnson, E. L. Development of a Solar Energy System (DOE-Texas Instruments Company Cooperative Agreement, Contract No. DE-AC01-79ER10000, Final Rep., (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Connolly, J. S. & Turner, J. A. in Proceedings, UNESCO-IOCD Sympos. Photochemical Conversions (ed. Braun, A. M.) 73–131 (Polytechniques Rorriandes, Lausanne, 1983).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Bolton, J. R. in Solar Energy—Chemical Conversion and Storage (eds Hautala, R. R., King, R. B. & Kutal, C.) 31–50 (Humana, Clifton, 1979).

    Google Scholar 

  41. Yoneyama, H., Sakamoto, H. & Tamura, H. Electrochim. Acta 20, 341–345 (1975).

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Nozik, A. J. Appl. Phys. Lett. 29, 150–153 (1976).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Ohashi, K., McCann, J. & Bockris, J. O'M., Nature 266, 610–611 (1977).

    ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Meinel, A. B. & Meinel, M. P. Applied Solar Energy—An Introduction, Ch. 8 (Addison-Wesley, Reading, Massachusetts, (1976).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bolton, J., Strickler, S. & Connolly, J. Limiting and realizable efficiencies of solar photolysis of water. Nature 316, 495–500 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/316495a0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/316495a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing