As an eco-friendly, efficient, and low-cost technique, photoelectrochemical water splitting has attracted growing interest in the production of clean and sustainable hydrogen by the conversion of abundant solar energy. In the photoelectrochemical system, the photoelectrode plays a vital role in absorbing the energy of sunlight to trigger the water splitting process and the overall efficiency depends largely on the integration and design of photoelectrochemical devices. In recent years, the optimization of photoelectrodes and photoelectrochemical devices to achieve highly efficient hydrogen production has been extensively investigated. In this paper, a concise review of recent advances in the modification of nanostructured photoelectrodes and the design of photoelectrochemical devices is presented. Meanwhile, the general principles of structural and morphological factors in altering the photoelectrochemical performance of photoelectrodes are discussed. Furthermore, the performance indicators and first principles to describe the behaviors of charge carriers are analyzed, which will be of profound guiding significance to increasing the overall efficiency of the photoelectrochemical water splitting system. Finally, current challenges and prospects for an in-depth understanding of reaction mechanisms using advanced characterization technologies and potential strategies for developing novel photoelectrodes and advanced photoelectrochemical water splitting devices are demonstrated.

作为一种环保、高效、低成本的技术，光电化学水分解技术越来越引起人们对通过转换丰富的太阳能来生产清洁和可持续的氢气的兴趣。在光电化学系统中，光电极在吸收太阳光能量以触发水分解过程中起着至关重要的作用，其整体效率很大程度上取决于光电化学器件的集成和设计。近年来，人们对光电极和光电化学器件的优化以实现高效制氢进行了广泛的研究。本文简要回顾了纳米结构光电极改性和光电化学器件设计的最新进展。同时，讨论了改变光电极光电化学性能的结构和形态因素的一般原理。此外，分析了描述电荷载流子行为的性能指标和第一性原理，这对于提高光电化学水分解系统的整体效率具有深远的指导意义。最后，展示了使用先进表征技术深入了解反应机理的当前挑战和前景，以及开发新型光电极和先进光电化学水分解装置的潜在策略。分析了描述电荷载流子行为的性能指标和第一性原理，这将对提高光电化学水分解系统的整体效率具有深远的指导意义。最后，展示了使用先进表征技术深入了解反应机理的当前挑战和前景，以及开发新型光电极和先进光电化学水分解装置的潜在策略。分析了描述电荷载流子行为的性能指标和第一性原理，这将对提高光电化学水分解系统的整体效率具有深远的指导意义。最后，展示了使用先进表征技术深入了解反应机理的当前挑战和前景，以及开发新型光电极和先进光电化学水分解装置的潜在策略。