Photoelectrochemical devices, where light absorption and catalytic functionality are intimately integrated, promise efficient and autonomous production of solar fuels. However, few have been demonstrated beyond the small scale, and outdoor testing remains rare. Now, Grégory Cwicklinski, Muriel Matheron, Sophie Charton and colleagues at Université Montpellier, Université Grenoble Alpes and Université Paris-Saclay report 72 hours of outdoor testing of a solar-powered device, which has a footprint of approximately 2 m², to produce methane.

The device uses integrated photoelectrochemical cells to produce H₂ from water; this is then fed to a bioreactor where methanogens (Methanococcus maripaludis) hydrogenate CO₂ to make CH₄. The photoelectrochemical cells comprise proton-exchange membrane electrolysers powered by silicon/perovskite tandem solar cells, with a total light-harvesting area of 342 cm². As well as being electrically integrated, these components are also closely thermally integrated, allowing heat generated at the solar cells to warm the water going to the anode to improve performance.

光电化学装置将光吸收和催化功能紧密集成，有望高效、自主地生产太阳能燃料。然而，除了小规模之外，几乎没有得到证实，而且户外测试仍然很少。现在，蒙彼利埃大学、格勒诺布尔阿尔卑斯大学和巴黎萨克雷大学的 Grégory Cwicklinski、Muriel Matheron、Sophie Charton 及其同事报告了对太阳能设备进行 72 小时的户外测试，该设备占地面积约 2 m ² ，可产生甲烷。

该装置采用集成光电化学电池从水中产生H ₂ ；然后将其送入生物反应器，其中产甲烷菌 ( Methanococcus maripaludis ) 氢化 CO ₂生成 CH ₄ 。光电化学电池包括由硅/钙钛矿串联太阳能电池供电的质子交换膜电解槽，总光收集面积为342 cm ² 。除了电气集成之外，这些组件在热学上也紧密集成，使太阳能电池产生的热量能够加热流向阳极的水，从而提高性能。