Microbial photoelectrochemical cell for improved hydrogen evolution using MoO3 overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe2O3 photoanode

Periyasamy Anushkkaran; Moungsung Kim; Aniruddha B. Sathe; Junsang Park; Iain Michie; Richard Dinsdale; Bongkyu Kim; Jum Suk Jang

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154943

Microbial photoelectrochemical cell for improved hydrogen evolution using MoO₃ overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe₂O₃ photoanode

Periyasamy Anushkkaran
, Moungsung Kim
, Aniruddha B. Sathe
, Junsang Park
, Iain Michie
, Richard Dinsdale
, Bongkyu Kim^*
, Jum Suk Jang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Environmental Biotechnology

Jeonbuk National University
Uva Wellassa University
University of South Wales

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › peer-review

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a sustainable and environmentally friendly technology that utilizes solar energy to produce hydrogen. Moreover, biomass sources are greatly sought after for their carbon-neutral characteristics. This study presents the development of a hybrid microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system designed to enhance hydrogen (H₂) production through the integration of a MoO₃ overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe₂O₃ photoanode with a bioanode. The bioanode (MFC) system showed 3.9 mA at 1.0 V vs. Pt during 3 h. The photoanode measuring 4 × 2 cm2 revealed a photocurrent of 1.9 mA at 1.23 V vs. Pt when combined with the bioanode. The hybrid integrated full MPEC system achieved a hydrogen evolution rate of 53.1 μmol/h, accompanied by enhanced stability of 5 mA after 3.5 h. This outcome highlights the effective utilization of both solar-driven and bio-assisted charge generation pathways, underscoring the potential of the integrated system for sustainable and decentralized hydrogen production.

Original language	English
Article number	154943
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	231
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154943
State	Published - 2026.05.6

Keywords

Bioanode
Hematite photoanode
Hydrogen evolution
Microbial photoelectrochemical cell
MoOoverlayer

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10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154943

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title = "Microbial photoelectrochemical cell for improved hydrogen evolution using MoO3 overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe2O3 photoanode",

abstract = "Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a sustainable and environmentally friendly technology that utilizes solar energy to produce hydrogen. Moreover, biomass sources are greatly sought after for their carbon-neutral characteristics. This study presents the development of a hybrid microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system designed to enhance hydrogen (H2) production through the integration of a MoO3 overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe2O3 photoanode with a bioanode. The bioanode (MFC) system showed 3.9 mA at 1.0 V vs. Pt during 3 h. The photoanode measuring 4 × 2 cm2 revealed a photocurrent of 1.9 mA at 1.23 V vs. Pt when combined with the bioanode. The hybrid integrated full MPEC system achieved a hydrogen evolution rate of 53.1 μmol/h, accompanied by enhanced stability of 5 mA after 3.5 h. This outcome highlights the effective utilization of both solar-driven and bio-assisted charge generation pathways, underscoring the potential of the integrated system for sustainable and decentralized hydrogen production.",

keywords = "Bioanode, Hematite photoanode, Hydrogen evolution, Microbial photoelectrochemical cell, MoOoverlayer",

author = "Periyasamy Anushkkaran and Moungsung Kim and Sathe, \{Aniruddha B.\} and Junsang Park and Iain Michie and Richard Dinsdale and Bongkyu Kim and Jang, \{Jum Suk\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights are reserved, including those for text and data mining, AI training, and similar technologies.",

year = "2026",

month = may,

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doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154943",

language = "English",

volume = "231",

journal = "International Journal of Hydrogen Energy",

issn = "0360-3199",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Microbial photoelectrochemical cell for improved hydrogen evolution using MoO3 overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe2O3 photoanode

AU - Anushkkaran, Periyasamy

AU - Kim, Moungsung

AU - Sathe, Aniruddha B.

AU - Park, Junsang

AU - Michie, Iain

AU - Dinsdale, Richard

AU - Kim, Bongkyu

AU - Jang, Jum Suk

PY - 2026/5/6

Y1 - 2026/5/6

N2 - Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a sustainable and environmentally friendly technology that utilizes solar energy to produce hydrogen. Moreover, biomass sources are greatly sought after for their carbon-neutral characteristics. This study presents the development of a hybrid microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system designed to enhance hydrogen (H2) production through the integration of a MoO3 overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe2O3 photoanode with a bioanode. The bioanode (MFC) system showed 3.9 mA at 1.0 V vs. Pt during 3 h. The photoanode measuring 4 × 2 cm2 revealed a photocurrent of 1.9 mA at 1.23 V vs. Pt when combined with the bioanode. The hybrid integrated full MPEC system achieved a hydrogen evolution rate of 53.1 μmol/h, accompanied by enhanced stability of 5 mA after 3.5 h. This outcome highlights the effective utilization of both solar-driven and bio-assisted charge generation pathways, underscoring the potential of the integrated system for sustainable and decentralized hydrogen production.

AB - Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a sustainable and environmentally friendly technology that utilizes solar energy to produce hydrogen. Moreover, biomass sources are greatly sought after for their carbon-neutral characteristics. This study presents the development of a hybrid microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system designed to enhance hydrogen (H2) production through the integration of a MoO3 overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe2O3 photoanode with a bioanode. The bioanode (MFC) system showed 3.9 mA at 1.0 V vs. Pt during 3 h. The photoanode measuring 4 × 2 cm2 revealed a photocurrent of 1.9 mA at 1.23 V vs. Pt when combined with the bioanode. The hybrid integrated full MPEC system achieved a hydrogen evolution rate of 53.1 μmol/h, accompanied by enhanced stability of 5 mA after 3.5 h. This outcome highlights the effective utilization of both solar-driven and bio-assisted charge generation pathways, underscoring the potential of the integrated system for sustainable and decentralized hydrogen production.

KW - Bioanode

KW - Hematite photoanode

KW - Hydrogen evolution

KW - Microbial photoelectrochemical cell

KW - MoOoverlayer

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105035232038

U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154943

DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2026.154943

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:105035232038

SN - 0360-3199

VL - 231

JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

M1 - 154943

ER -

Microbial photoelectrochemical cell for improved hydrogen evolution using MoO₃ overlayer-coated Zr/Hf co-doped Fe₂O₃ photoanode

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Keywords

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