Photo-responsive metal/semiconductor hybrid nanostructure: A promising electrocatalyst for solar light enhanced fuel cell reaction

Abstract Direct alcohol fuel cells (DAFCs) have received wide attention as a new type of clean energy device because of their high energy conversion efficiency, portability, non-toxicity and pollution-free. Anode catalysts are the key factors affecting the performance of DAFCs. Recently studies show that using the optical activity of semiconductor materials as the carriers of traditional precious metal electrocatalysts, under the illumination of light sources, can greatly improve the electrocatalytic activity and stability of electrodes. In this review, the research progress of photo-responsive metal/semiconductor hybrids as the electrocatalysts for DAFCs in recent years is summarized. including: (1) Mechanism and advantages of photo-assistant electrochemical alcohol oxidation reaction; (2) metal/semiconductor electrocatalyst for the different type of fuel cell reactions; (3) different kind of metals in photo-responsive metal/semiconductor hybrid nanostructure; (4) the personal prospects of the photo-responsive metal/semiconductor electrode for future application in DAFCs.