Research on the storage of solar energy in terms of hydrogen or carbon-based fuels by using sunlight to split water or to reduce CO₂, respectively, has gained significant attention in recent years. Among reported water-splitting systems, one approach has focused on hybrid systems with molecular catalysts or molecular light-harvesting systems that are combined with nanostructured materials. In this perspective we summarize recent developments in operation and fabrication strategies for various water-splitting devices constructed from electrodes (electrochemical cells) or photoelectrodes (photoelectrochemical cells) using molecular engineering. We also provide insights into the factors that influence device efficiency and stability, and provide guidelines for future fabrication strategies for more advanced devices.

通过使用日光分解水或减少CO ₂来研究以氢或碳基燃料存储太阳能的方法近年来，分别获得了极大的关注。在报道的水分解系统中，一种方法集中于具有分子催化剂的混合系统或与纳米结构材料结合的分子光收集系统。从这个角度出发，我们总结了使用分子工程技术从电极（电化学电池）或光电极（光电化学电池）构建的各种水分解装置在操作和制造策略方面的最新进展。我们还提供了影响器件效率和稳定性的因素的见解，并为将来用于更高级器件的制造策略提供了指导。