About This Book
Antonio Wright
Photoelectrochemistry is the study of the interaction between light and electrochemical systems. It
explores the processes where light energy is used to drive electrochemical reactions. This field combines
the principles of both photochemistry and electrochemistry to understand the fundamental
mechanisms by which light can influence electrochemical behavior and facilitate processes such as the
generation of electrical energy or the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. In
photoelectrochemical systems, light is absorbed by a photoactive material, usually a semiconductor,
which excites electrons from the valence band to the conduction band. This excitation creates electronhole
pairs, which can then participate in redox reactions. These reactions occur at the surface of the
photoelectrode, where the electrons generated by light absorption can either drive reduction reactions
or flow through an external circuit to perform useful work, such as in photovoltaic cells or
photoelectrochemical water splitting. A typical example of photoelectrochemistry is the
photoelectrochemical cell used in solar energy conversion. In these cells, a semiconductor material, such
as titanium dioxide (TiO?), absorbs light and generates charge carriers that can drive electrochemical
reactions. Photoelectrochemical cells have potential applications in renewable energy, specifically in the
production of hydrogen from water, which could be an important step in addressing global energy and
environmental challenges. Photoelectrochemistry delves into the interactions between light and
electrochemical processes, focusing on the mechanisms behind energy conversion and the
development of new technologies for sustainable energy production.
Contents: 1. Photochemical Reactions, 2. Photochemical Process, 3. Photochemical Pericyclic Reactions,
4. Energy Conversion in Photosynthetic Organisms, 5. Electrostatic Potential: Understanding the Energy
of Charges, 6. Electrochemical Cells, 7. Photoelectric Phenomenon, 8. Thermodynamics and Equilibrium
Chemistry.
