Firefly-like water splitting cells based on FRET phenomena with ultrahigh performance over 12%

A firefly-like chemiluminescence reaction was utilized in a ZrO₂ nanoparticle matrix of water splitting cells, where the chlorophyll of Lantana camara was used as the major photosensitizer to excite electrons to the conduction band of ZrO₂. The fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was induced by rubrene, a firefly-like chemiluminescence molecule, and Lantana camara chlorophyll combined with 9,10-diphenylanthracene. The ZrO₂ nanoparticle film coated by the chlorophyll of Lantana camara and 9,10-diphenylanthracene under chemiluminescence irradiation in 1 M KHCO₃ water solution demonstrated the highest photocurrent density (88.1 A/m²) and the highest water splitting efficiency (12.77%).