Enhanced solar water oxidation and unassisted water splitting using graphite-protected bulk heterojunction organic photoactive layers

Matyas Daboczi (), Flurin Eisner (), Joel Luke, Shi Wei Yuan, Noof Al Lawati, Maoqing Zhi, Mengya Yang, Jolanda Simone Müller, Katherine Stewart, Ji-Seon Kim, Jenny Nelson () and Salvador Eslava ()
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Matyas Daboczi: Imperial College London
Flurin Eisner: Imperial College London
Joel Luke: Imperial College London
Shi Wei Yuan: Imperial College London
Noof Al Lawati: Imperial College London
Maoqing Zhi: Imperial College London
Mengya Yang: Imperial College London
Jolanda Simone Müller: Imperial College London
Katherine Stewart: Imperial College London
Ji-Seon Kim: Imperial College London
Jenny Nelson: Imperial College London
Salvador Eslava: Imperial College London

Nature Energy, 2025, vol. 10, issue 5, 581-591

Abstract: Abstract Polymer donors and non-fullerene acceptors have played an important role as photoactive materials in the development of high-efficiency organic solar cells and have immense potential in devices for direct solar hydrogen generation. However, their use in direct solar water-splitting devices has been limited by their instability in aqueous environment and recombination losses at the interface with catalysts. Here we report anodes containing PM6:D18:L8-BO photoactive layers reaching high solar water oxidation photocurrent density over 25 mA cm−2 at +1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode and days-long operational stability. This was achieved by integrating the organic photoactive layer with a graphite sheet functionalized with earth-abundant NiFeOOH water oxidation catalyst, which provides both water resistance and electrical connection between the catalyst and the photoactive layer without any losses. Using monolithic tandem anodes containing organic PM6:D18:L8-BO and PTQ10:GS-ISO photoactive layers, we achieve a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 5%. These results pave the way towards high-efficiency, stable and unassisted solar hydrogen generation by low-cost organic photoactive materials.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41560-025-01736-6

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