Advances in design principles of nanostructured heterojunction catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions: a mini-review

Dae Kyo Oh; Sangmin Ha; Yoongu Lim; Dae Jun Moon; Gyoung Hwa Jeong; Tae Yong An; Juhwang Kim; Subramani Surendran; Xiaoyan Lu; Heechae Choi; Gibum Kwon; Young Hoon Yun; Uk Sim

doi:10.1007/s43207-025-00549-3

Advances in design principles of nanostructured heterojunction catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions: a mini-review

Dae Kyo Oh
, Sangmin Ha
, Yoongu Lim
, Dae Jun Moon
, Gyoung Hwa Jeong
, Tae Yong An
, Juhwang Kim
, Subramani Surendran
, Xiaoyan Lu
, Heechae Choi
, Gibum Kwon
, Young Hoon Yun^*
, Uk Sim^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Dongshin University
Korea Institute of Energy Technology
Luoyang Normal University
University of Kansas
NEEL Sciences INC.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Hydrogen production from solar energy using photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting holds great potential for sustainable energy applications. The utilization of durable, cost-effective, and highly active photoelectrodes is essential for advanced PEC technology. PEC cells perform better in splitting water when transition metal-based electrocatalysts are added as cocatalysts. This review aims to provide an in-depth examination of the latest advancements in the synthesis, characterization, and application of transition-metal-based electrocatalysts for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. Transition metal-based electrocatalysts are prioritized for the hydrogen evolution process generated via PEC water-splitting processes. In this review, we explain the PEC hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) methods on semiconductor surfaces and the development of various semiconductor materials through a heterostructure design strategies. The depletion layer formed in the semiconductors after heterostructure formation enhances the structural and electronic properties of PEC-HER activity. The review is anticipated to emphasize the importance of PEC processes and semiconductor design for HER and to enlighten readers from various sectors.

Original language	English
Journal	Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
Early online date	8 Oct 2025
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-025-00549-3
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 8 Oct 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy

Keywords

Electrochemical Oxidation
Energy Conversion
Heterojunction Catalysts
Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Nanostructures
Photoelectrochemical

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10.1007/s43207-025-00549-3

Cite this

Oh, D. K., Ha, S., Lim, Y., Moon, D. J., Jeong, G. H., An, T. Y., Kim, J., Surendran, S., Lu, X., Choi, H., Kwon, G., Yun, Y. H., & Sim, U. (2025). Advances in design principles of nanostructured heterojunction catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions: a mini-review. Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43207-025-00549-3

@article{9b1924670be94446845c3fdac83b7002,

title = "Advances in design principles of nanostructured heterojunction catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions: a mini-review",

abstract = "Hydrogen production from solar energy using photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting holds great potential for sustainable energy applications. The utilization of durable, cost-effective, and highly active photoelectrodes is essential for advanced PEC technology. PEC cells perform better in splitting water when transition metal-based electrocatalysts are added as cocatalysts. This review aims to provide an in-depth examination of the latest advancements in the synthesis, characterization, and application of transition-metal-based electrocatalysts for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. Transition metal-based electrocatalysts are prioritized for the hydrogen evolution process generated via PEC water-splitting processes. In this review, we explain the PEC hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) methods on semiconductor surfaces and the development of various semiconductor materials through a heterostructure design strategies. The depletion layer formed in the semiconductors after heterostructure formation enhances the structural and electronic properties of PEC-HER activity. The review is anticipated to emphasize the importance of PEC processes and semiconductor design for HER and to enlighten readers from various sectors.",

keywords = "Electrochemical Oxidation, Energy Conversion, Heterojunction Catalysts, Hydrogen Evolution Reaction, Nanostructures, Photoelectrochemical",

author = "Oh, \{Dae Kyo\} and Sangmin Ha and Yoongu Lim and Moon, \{Dae Jun\} and Jeong, \{Gyoung Hwa\} and An, \{Tae Yong\} and Juhwang Kim and Subramani Surendran and Xiaoyan Lu and Heechae Choi and Gibum Kwon and Yun, \{Young Hoon\} and Uk Sim",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Korean Ceramic Society 2025.",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "8",

doi = "10.1007/s43207-025-00549-3",

language = "English",

journal = "Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society",

issn = "1229-7801",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Advances in design principles of nanostructured heterojunction catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions

T2 - a mini-review

AU - Oh, Dae Kyo

AU - Ha, Sangmin

AU - Lim, Yoongu

AU - Moon, Dae Jun

AU - Jeong, Gyoung Hwa

AU - An, Tae Yong

AU - Kim, Juhwang

AU - Surendran, Subramani

AU - Lu, Xiaoyan

AU - Choi, Heechae

AU - Kwon, Gibum

AU - Yun, Young Hoon

AU - Sim, Uk

PY - 2025/10/8

Y1 - 2025/10/8

N2 - Hydrogen production from solar energy using photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting holds great potential for sustainable energy applications. The utilization of durable, cost-effective, and highly active photoelectrodes is essential for advanced PEC technology. PEC cells perform better in splitting water when transition metal-based electrocatalysts are added as cocatalysts. This review aims to provide an in-depth examination of the latest advancements in the synthesis, characterization, and application of transition-metal-based electrocatalysts for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. Transition metal-based electrocatalysts are prioritized for the hydrogen evolution process generated via PEC water-splitting processes. In this review, we explain the PEC hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) methods on semiconductor surfaces and the development of various semiconductor materials through a heterostructure design strategies. The depletion layer formed in the semiconductors after heterostructure formation enhances the structural and electronic properties of PEC-HER activity. The review is anticipated to emphasize the importance of PEC processes and semiconductor design for HER and to enlighten readers from various sectors.

AB - Hydrogen production from solar energy using photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting holds great potential for sustainable energy applications. The utilization of durable, cost-effective, and highly active photoelectrodes is essential for advanced PEC technology. PEC cells perform better in splitting water when transition metal-based electrocatalysts are added as cocatalysts. This review aims to provide an in-depth examination of the latest advancements in the synthesis, characterization, and application of transition-metal-based electrocatalysts for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting. Transition metal-based electrocatalysts are prioritized for the hydrogen evolution process generated via PEC water-splitting processes. In this review, we explain the PEC hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) methods on semiconductor surfaces and the development of various semiconductor materials through a heterostructure design strategies. The depletion layer formed in the semiconductors after heterostructure formation enhances the structural and electronic properties of PEC-HER activity. The review is anticipated to emphasize the importance of PEC processes and semiconductor design for HER and to enlighten readers from various sectors.

KW - Electrochemical Oxidation

KW - Energy Conversion

KW - Heterojunction Catalysts

KW - Hydrogen Evolution Reaction

KW - Nanostructures

KW - Photoelectrochemical

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105018326033

U2 - 10.1007/s43207-025-00549-3

DO - 10.1007/s43207-025-00549-3

M3 - Review article

AN - SCOPUS:105018326033

SN - 1229-7801

JO - Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society

JF - Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society

ER -

Advances in design principles of nanostructured heterojunction catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution reactions: a mini-review

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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