Advancing Solar Energy Storage: From Photoelectrodes Engineering to Photoelectrochemical Cell Upscaling

Paula Dias^a, Filipe Francisco^a, Telmo da Silva Lopes^a, Tânia Lopes^a, Adélio Mendes^a

^aLEPABE – Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, ALiCE – Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal

Proceedings of MATSUS Fall 2026 Conference (MATSUSFall26)

E5 From Materials Innovation to Sustainable Photo-Assisted Electrochemical Systems

Palma, Spain, 2026 October 26th - 30th

Organizers: Teresa Gatti and Isabella Poli

Invited Speaker, Paula Dias, presentation 348
Publication date: 22nd July 2026

The intermittent nature of solar energy necessitates efficient and scalable energy storage technologies to enable its widespread deployment. Solar Redox Flow Cells (SRFCs) are an emerging photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology that addresses integrates solar energy harvesting, storage, and on-demand electricity and heat generation within a single device [1]. Although significant advances have been reported in semiconductor photoelectrodes and redox chemistries, demonstrations at higher technology readiness levels remain limited [2]. This communication addresses key scientific and engineering challenges toward SRFC commercialization through the development of advanced materials and scalable device architectures. Device upscaling was initiated through the harmonization of experimental procedures and the design of a reproducible small-scale device – the UniFlow cell [3], followed by the development of the SolarFlow25 cell and its modular 100 cm2 photoactive-area architecture. Coupled with an optimized industry-grade silicon heterojunction (Si-HTJ) photoelectrode, the system achieves an unprecedented photocharging efficiency of ca. 11.58 % for a single-photoabsorber SRFC. These results demonstrate the feasibility of high-performance SRFCs using scalable, industry-compatible materials.

References:

[1] da Silva Lopes, T.; Dias, P.; Monteiro, R.; Vilanova, A.; Ivanou, D.; Mendes, A., A 25 cm2 Solar Redox Flow Cell: Facing the Engineering Challenges of Upscaling. Advanced Energy Materials 2022, 12 (5), 2102893.

[2] Vilanova, A.; Dias, P.; Lopes, T.; Mendes, A., The route for commercial photoelectrochemical water splitting: a review of large-area devices and key upscaling challenges. Chemical Society Reviews 2024, 53, 2388-2434.

[3] da Silva Lopes, T.; Dias, P.; Mendes, A., A Standardizable Laboratory‑Scale Device for the Harmonization of Photoelectrochemical Experimental Procedures in Solar Redox Flow Cells. Carbon Energy 2026.

Acknowledgements:

P. Dias, F. Francisco, T. da Silva Lopes, and T. Lopes are grateful to the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the financial support (references: CEECIND/02862/2018, SFRH/BD/146338/2019, SFRH/BD/147426/2019, and CEECIND/02385/2021). This work is a result of Agenda "AET – Alliance for Energy Transition", nr. C644914747-00000023, investment project nr. 56, financed by the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR) and by European Union - NextGeneration EU, and by national funds through FCT/MECI: LEPABE, UID/00511/2025 (doi.org/10.54499/UID/00511/2025) and UID/PRR/00511/2025 (doi.org/10.54499/UID/PRR/00511/2025) and ALiCE, LA/P/0045/2020 (doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0045/2020).

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