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Title: Enhanced photoelectrochemical efficiency and stability using a conformal TiO2 film on a black silicon photoanode

Abstract

Black silicon (b-Si) is a surface-nanostructured Si with extremely efficient light absorption capability and is therefore of interest for solar energy conversion. However, intense charge recombination and low electrochemical stability limit the use of b-Si in photoelectrochemical solar-fuel production. Here we report that a conformal, ultrathin, amorphous TiO2 film deposited by low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) on top of b-Si can simultaneously address both of these issues. Combined with a Co(OH)2 thin film as the oxygen evolution catalyst, this b-Si/TiO2/Co(OH)2 heterostructured photoanode was able to produce a saturated photocurrent density of 32.3 mA cm–2 at an external potential of 1.48 V versus reversible reference electrode (RHE) in 1 M NaOH electrolyte. The enhanced photocurrent relative to planar Si and unprotected b-Si photoelectrodes was attributed to the enhanced charge separation efficiency as a result of the effective passivation of defective sites on the b-Si surface. The 8-nm ALD TiO2 layer extends the operational lifetime of b-Si from less than half an hour to four hours.

Authors:
 [1];  [2];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1]
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  1. University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
  2. University of Science and Technology Beijing (China)
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
OSTI Identifier:
1984447
Grant/Contract Number:  
SC0008711
Resource Type:
Accepted Manuscript
Journal Name:
Nature Energy
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 2; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 2058-7546
Publisher:
Nature Publishing Group
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; Black silicon; Surface protection; Photoelectrochemical water splitting; Charge separation enhancement; Atomic layer deposition; Hydrogen fuel; Photocatalysis; Photochemistry; Porous materials

Citation Formats

Yu, Yanhao, Zhang, Zheng, Yin, Xin, Kvit, Alexander, Liao, Qingliang, Kang, Zhuo, Yan, Xiaoqin, Zhang, Yue, and Wang, Xudong. Enhanced photoelectrochemical efficiency and stability using a conformal TiO2 film on a black silicon photoanode. United States: N. p., 2017. Web. doi:10.1038/nenergy.2017.45.
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Yu, Yanhao, Zhang, Zheng, Yin, Xin, Kvit, Alexander, Liao, Qingliang, Kang, Zhuo, Yan, Xiaoqin, Zhang, Yue, & Wang, Xudong. Enhanced photoelectrochemical efficiency and stability using a conformal TiO2 film on a black silicon photoanode. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.45
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Yu, Yanhao, Zhang, Zheng, Yin, Xin, Kvit, Alexander, Liao, Qingliang, Kang, Zhuo, Yan, Xiaoqin, Zhang, Yue, and Wang, Xudong. Mon . "Enhanced photoelectrochemical efficiency and stability using a conformal TiO2 film on a black silicon photoanode". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.45. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1984447.
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@article{osti_1984447,
title = {Enhanced photoelectrochemical efficiency and stability using a conformal TiO2 film on a black silicon photoanode},
author = {Yu, Yanhao and Zhang, Zheng and Yin, Xin and Kvit, Alexander and Liao, Qingliang and Kang, Zhuo and Yan, Xiaoqin and Zhang, Yue and Wang, Xudong},
abstractNote = {Black silicon (b-Si) is a surface-nanostructured Si with extremely efficient light absorption capability and is therefore of interest for solar energy conversion. However, intense charge recombination and low electrochemical stability limit the use of b-Si in photoelectrochemical solar-fuel production. Here we report that a conformal, ultrathin, amorphous TiO2 film deposited by low-temperature atomic layer deposition (ALD) on top of b-Si can simultaneously address both of these issues. Combined with a Co(OH)2 thin film as the oxygen evolution catalyst, this b-Si/TiO2/Co(OH)2 heterostructured photoanode was able to produce a saturated photocurrent density of 32.3 mA cm–2 at an external potential of 1.48 V versus reversible reference electrode (RHE) in 1 M NaOH electrolyte. The enhanced photocurrent relative to planar Si and unprotected b-Si photoelectrodes was attributed to the enhanced charge separation efficiency as a result of the effective passivation of defective sites on the b-Si surface. The 8-nm ALD TiO2 layer extends the operational lifetime of b-Si from less than half an hour to four hours.},
doi = {10.1038/nenergy.2017.45},
journal = {Nature Energy},
number = 6,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017},
month = {Mon Mar 27 00:00:00 EDT 2017}
}
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https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.45
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    Works referencing / citing this record:

    Crystalline TiO2 protective layer with graded oxygen defects for efficient and stable silicon-based photocathode
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    Nature Degradable, Flexible, and Transparent Conductive Substrates from Green and Earth-Abundant Materials
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    Seebeck-voltage-triggered self-biased photoelectrochemical water splitting using HfOx/SiOx bi-layer protected Si photocathodes
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    CVD-Grown Carbon Nanotube Branches on Black Silicon Stems for Ultrahigh Absorbance in Wide Wavelength Range
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