Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Professor Juwon Lim’s Team Develops New-Concept Semiconductor Photoelectrode

Significant Advancement in PEC Performance Announced

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies announced on the 18th that the research team led by Professor Juwon Lim of the Department of Semiconductor and Electronic Engineering, in collaboration with Professor Huan Wang’s team at Northeast Petroleum University in China, has developed a new-concept semiconductor photoelectrode that enhances the performance of photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, which are gaining attention as next-generation eco-friendly energy conversion technology.

Juwon Lim, Professor, Department of Semiconductor Electronics Engineering, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies

Professor Lim’s team, in this study, combined molybdenum-doped tungsten oxide (Mo-WO₃) and cerium oxide (CeO₂) to implement an S-scheme heterojunction structure. By maximizing the separation efficiency of photogenerated electrons and holes, the team dramatically suppressed charge recombination losses-a major limitation of existing photoelectrodes-and demonstrated the potential for highly efficient power generation using light.

In particular, this photoelectrode was applied to a new type of photoelectrochemical cell mediated by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), achieving an H₂O₂ generation efficiency more than four times higher than conventional methods and a 2.55-fold increase in power density.

Additionally, the electrode exhibited ultra-high capacitance and a 54% capacity retention rate over 12 hours, demonstrating the potential for an all-in-one energy system that simultaneously enables photoenergy conversion, energy storage, and power supply functions.

Professor Lim stated, “This research applies the concepts of charge transport control and defect engineering in semiconductor devices to energy conversion devices, representing an innovative approach that integrates solar power generation, fuel storage, and power production into a single system. In the future, it will be expanded to various applied research areas such as semiconductor-based hydrogen production, self-powered sensors, and photocatalytic reaction devices.”

The results of this study were published in the Journal of Materials Science & Technology, an internationally renowned academic journal ranked in the top 1% worldwide in the field of metallurgy and materials engineering.

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