Optoionics

Optoionics is an emerging field at the intersection of optoelectronics and solid state ionics, which explores the control of ions with light for applications in energy storage, bioelectronics, and sensing. Our department has pioneered optoionic concepts, materials and devices that couple light-induced electronic and ionic degrees of freedom, including direct solar batteries, “dark” photocatalysis, solar battolyzers, light-driven microswimmers, or photomemristive sensors. Our vision is to establish optoionics as a new tool to develop next-generation energy technologies that synergistically combine solar energy conversion and electrochemical energy storage.

Key Publications

An integrated solar battery based on a charge storing 2D carbon nitride
A. Gouder, F. Podjaski, A. Jiménez-Solano, J. Kröger, Y. Wang, B.V. Lotsch
Energy Environ. Sci. 2023, 16, 1520–1530. Article

Light-driven carbon nitride-based microswimmers with propulsion in biological and ionic media and responsive on-demand drug delivery
V. Sridhar, F. Podjaski, Y. Alapan, J. Kröger, L. Grunenberg, V. Kishore, B.V. Lotsch, M. Sitti
Sci. Rob. 2022, 7, eabm1421. Article

Optoelectronics meets optoionics: Light storing carbon nitrides and beyond
F. Podjaski, B.V. Lotsch
Adv. Energy Mater. 2021, 11, 202003049. Article

Toward an Aqueous Solar Battery: Direct Electrochemical Storage of Solar Energy in Carbon Nitrides
F. Podjaski, J. Kröger, B.V. Lotsch
Adv. Mater. 2018, 30, 1705477. Article