Work

Nanostructuring Strategies To Increase the Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Activity of Silicon Photocathodes

Year: 2019

Type: article

Abstract: Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising route for sustainable hydrogen production. Herein, we demonstrate a photoelectrode motif that enables a nanostructured large-surface area electrocatalyst without requiring a nanostructured semiconductor surface with the goal of promoting electrocatalysis while minimizing surface recombination. We compare the photoelectrochemical H 2 evolution activity of two silicon photocathode nanostructuring strategies: (1) direct nanostructuring of the silicon surface and (2) incorporation of nanostructured zinc oxide to increase the electrocatalyst surface area on planar silicon. We observed that silicon photocathodes that utilized nanostructured ZnO supports outperformed nanostructured silicon electrodes by ∼50 mV at open circuit under 1 sun illumination and demonstrated comparable electrocatalytic activity.

Source: ACS Applied Nano Materials

DOI: 10.1021/acsanm.8b01966