Publication date: 22nd July 2026
Replacing water oxidation with alternative anodic oxidation reactions in photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems offers a powerful route to enhance the value of solar-driven fuel production.[1] By coupling hydrogen evolution with selective oxidation of organic substrates, PEC devices can convert low-value feedstocks into valuable chemicals. However, practical implementation is governed by the intrinsic complexity of multi-electron, multi-pathway oxidation chemistry, where controlling reaction selectivity remains a central challenge. In this talk, we will present our recent work on understanding and steering selectivity in PEC oxidation reactions using oxide-based systems. Using glycerol oxidation as a model reaction, we show that electrolyte composition plays a critical role in governing reaction kinetics and product distribution, where ion-specific interactions and interfacial buffering strongly influence glycolaldehyde formation.[2] We further demonstrate that reaction selectivity can be dynamically tuned through light intensity, which modulates surface hole accumulation and shifts reaction pathways from partial oxidation products toward deeper oxidation to formic acid via identifiable intermediates.[3] In parallel, interfacial engineering strategies, including heterojunction and doped overlayer design, enable suppression of non-selective radical pathways and improved control of C–C bond scission. Finally, extending these concepts beyond biomass-derived feedstocks, we demonstrate a coupled photoelectrochemical–thermal approach for solar-driven upcycling of PET waste, where oxygen generated at the photoanode is utilized to selectively convert ethylene glycol into glycolic acid while simultaneously producing hydrogen. Together, these studies establish selectivity control as a key design principle for enabling PEC oxidation chemistry beyond water splitting.
References
- K. Zhu; X. Zhang; L. Wen; S. Zhou; D. S. Achilleos; R. Amal; Y. H. Ng; F. F. Abdi, Nat. Rev. Clean Tech. 2025, 1, 621-637
- H. Kong; S. Gupta; A. F. Pérez-Torres; C. Höhn; P. Bogdanoff; M. T. Mayer; R. van de Krol; M. Favaro; F. F. Abdi, Chem. Sci., 2024, 15, 10425-10435.
- L. Wen; K. Zhu; X. Zhang; H. Y. Chung; S. Qu; H. Wu; F. F. Abdi, Cell Rep. Phys. Sci., accepted.
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