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The primary motivation for developing photo-electrochemical (PEC) hydrogen (H2) systems is to reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as required by the 2015 Paris Agreement1  and recently ratified by the threshold number of countries required for entry into force.2  While numerous approaches exist that can result in large GHG reductions,3  H2 represents an energy carrier with many attractive features,4  including feedstocks for its production, relative ease of storage and transport, high efficiency of conversion into electricity, and clean combustion without any particulates or CO2 emissions. Moreover, it is a useful intermediate chemical for many industrial purposes, including fuel upgrading or Fischer–Tropsch hydrocarbon synthesis,5  ammonia production,6  hydrochloric acid and methanol production,7  silicon manufacturing,8  and as a reducing agent for iron oxide.9  It can also be used in atomic hydrogen welding, as a rotor coolant in electric generators, and as a leak detector.7  Global H2 production was 48 million metric tons (Mt) in 2006 and >50 Mt in 2014, with 40% produced in the United States.10,11  Of the total US hydrogen production, petroleum refining consumed 64%, and chemical manufacturing (mainly ammonia production) consumed 33%. Global estimates indicate a potential demand of 300 Mt H2 per year in 2050,12  with an energy equivalent of ∼300 billion gallons of gasoline, or ∼20% of global liquid fuel demand in 2013.13 

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