{
  "abstract": "Plant-derived molecules offer tunable coordination and surface chemistry for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. A Scopus survey retrieved 45 documents linking both topics in 2005–2025, equivalent to 0.34% of the PEC literature. A supplementary search added 15 records, and screening retained 26 research articles. The review organizes molecular functions into light harvesting, charge-transfer mediation, coordination of catalytic overlayers, and passivation. A molecular readiness scale and a validation protocol connect molecular identity to verified device performance. Hybrid layers combining plant ligands with Co, Ni, or Fe raised BiVO4 photocurrents to approximately 3–6 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). Comparable inorganic overlayers preclude a general claim of superior activity. Ambient solution processing and control of interfacial coordination provide the principal design opportunities. Two-electron phenol/quinone potentials do not establish the feasibility of one-electron hole relay, which requires independent kinetic and redox evidence. At a coverage of 0.1 nmol cm−2, a chlorophyll layer has a calculated photocurrent upper bound of approximately 0.05 mA cm−2 within 640–680 nm alone. Broadband enhancement requires wavelength-resolved attribution. Operation for 1000 h at 1 mA cm−2 and a loading of 1 nmol cm−2 corresponds to approximately 3.7 × 107 electrons per initially loaded molecule. The proposed framework links molecular structure, interfacial function, and product verification to guide durable molecular photoelectrodes.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea",
    "School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea"
  ],
  "article_type": "review article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 4,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Sangmin Kim",
      "orcid": "0009-0007-4625-8970"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Inseo Hwang",
      "orcid": "0009-0000-1913-0348"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Gihoon Kim",
      "orcid": "0009-0007-4578-2447"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Hyeonseok Yoon",
      "orcid": "0000-0002-5403-1617"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a1ya9w06489n2.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3390/ijms27209326",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13705525/?tool=EBI",
  "id": "a1ya9w06489n2",
  "issns": [
    "1422-0067"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9326",
  "language": "eng",
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2105|Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223014920",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13705525/pdf/?tool=EBI",
  "pmcid": "PMC13705525",
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-01",
  "publisher": "MDPI AG",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a1ya9w06489n2.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:18:57Z",
      "native_id": "10.3390/ijms27209326",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9326"
    },
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:21:45Z",
      "native_id": "PMC:PMC13705525",
      "source": "europepmc",
      "url": "https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13705525"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "issn:1422-0067",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Plant-Derived Functional Molecules for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: From Molecular Design to Hybrid Materials Engineering",
  "title_text": "Plant-Derived Functional Molecules for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: From Molecular Design to Hybrid Materials Engineering",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:21:45Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/a1ya9w06489n2",
  "venue": "International Journal of Molecular Sciences",
  "versions": []
}