Energy and surging of environmental concerns are closely connected to each other, since it is almost impractical so far to produce or consume energy without a significant impact on the environment, including air/water pollution, climate change, solid waste disposal, and so on. Indeed, fossil fuel combustion is reported to cause most of the urban air pollution with the emission of undesired greenhouse gases, as well as oil spills and coal mining can provoke water contamination. Therefore, one of the prominent pillars of the current research relies on developing alternative renewable energy sources of common application in a short-medium term perspective.
Global energy demand from renewable sources is on rise since traditional energy harvesting technologies, mainly based on fossil fuels, need to be replaced being dangerous and no more sustainable for our world.
Hence, we are compelled to find new paradigms to produce green energy. Insofar as already reported, energy deriving from sun is more reliable and ample although of intermittent nature, whereas, on the other hand, hydrogen can represent a valuable sustainable alternative being lightweight and guaranteeing high gravimetric energy density (ca. 120 kJ/g). However, by the end of 2021, only 4% of global hydrogen production was from water electrolysis, while the majority came from coal (27%), oil (22%) and natural gas (47%). Thus, photo-electrocatalysis (PEC) of water could be a clean and sustainable way to produce hydrogen since it relies on the use of solar energy necessary for the water splitting, resulting a potential renewable energy source.
The Research Topic aims to collect and publish scientific contributions from international researchers describing the frontier outcomes on the energy production by employing photo-electrocatalysis. The collection will aim at showcasing new materials, processes or systems to produce clean energy without any greenhouse gasses emission and depletion of our planet resources.
Special attention will be devoted to collect research works dealing with photo-electrocatalysis to produce hydrogen to be used in fuel cells. In particular, communications, full-length papers and reviews about innovative photoanode and/or photocathode materials, new processes, and novel engineered devices will be welcomed to demonstrate the importance of the present topic and the new findings.
Keywords:
Renewable energy sources, Clean energy, Photo-electrocatlaysis, Solar-to-Hydrogen Conversion, Green Fuels, Innovative Materials, Novel Processes
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Energy and surging of environmental concerns are closely connected to each other, since it is almost impractical so far to produce or consume energy without a significant impact on the environment, including air/water pollution, climate change, solid waste disposal, and so on. Indeed, fossil fuel combustion is reported to cause most of the urban air pollution with the emission of undesired greenhouse gases, as well as oil spills and coal mining can provoke water contamination. Therefore, one of the prominent pillars of the current research relies on developing alternative renewable energy sources of common application in a short-medium term perspective.
Global energy demand from renewable sources is on rise since traditional energy harvesting technologies, mainly based on fossil fuels, need to be replaced being dangerous and no more sustainable for our world.
Hence, we are compelled to find new paradigms to produce green energy. Insofar as already reported, energy deriving from sun is more reliable and ample although of intermittent nature, whereas, on the other hand, hydrogen can represent a valuable sustainable alternative being lightweight and guaranteeing high gravimetric energy density (ca. 120 kJ/g). However, by the end of 2021, only 4% of global hydrogen production was from water electrolysis, while the majority came from coal (27%), oil (22%) and natural gas (47%). Thus, photo-electrocatalysis (PEC) of water could be a clean and sustainable way to produce hydrogen since it relies on the use of solar energy necessary for the water splitting, resulting a potential renewable energy source.
The Research Topic aims to collect and publish scientific contributions from international researchers describing the frontier outcomes on the energy production by employing photo-electrocatalysis. The collection will aim at showcasing new materials, processes or systems to produce clean energy without any greenhouse gasses emission and depletion of our planet resources.
Special attention will be devoted to collect research works dealing with photo-electrocatalysis to produce hydrogen to be used in fuel cells. In particular, communications, full-length papers and reviews about innovative photoanode and/or photocathode materials, new processes, and novel engineered devices will be welcomed to demonstrate the importance of the present topic and the new findings.
Keywords:
Renewable energy sources, Clean energy, Photo-electrocatlaysis, Solar-to-Hydrogen Conversion, Green Fuels, Innovative Materials, Novel Processes
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.