Plant-Derived Functional Molecules for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: From Molecular Design to Hybrid Materials Engineering
- 1Department of Polymer Engineering, Graduate School, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
- 2School of Polymer Science and Engineering, Chonnam National University, 77 Yongbong-ro, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
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.
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BibTeX
@article{kim2026plantderived,
title = {{Plant-Derived Functional Molecules for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: From Molecular Design to Hybrid Materials Engineering}},
author = {Sangmin Kim and Inseo Hwang and Gihoon Kim and Hyeonseok Yoon},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/ijms27209326},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9326},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Plant-Derived Functional Molecules for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: From Molecular Design to Hybrid Materials Engineering
AU - Sangmin Kim
AU - Inseo Hwang
AU - Gihoon Kim
AU - Hyeonseok Yoon
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - International Journal of Molecular Sciences
DO - 10.3390/ijms27209326
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/20/9326
AB - 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.
SN - 1422-0067
ER -