Bioinspired Molecular Co-Catalysts Bonded to a Silicon Photocathode for Solar Hydrogen Evolution
Abstract
The production of fuels from sunlight represents one of the main challenges in the development of a sustainable energy system. Hydrogen is the simplest fuel to produce and although platinum and other noble metals are efficient catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution earth-abundant alternatives are needed for large-scale use. We show that bioinspired molecular clusters based on molybdenum and sulphur evolve hydrogen at rates comparable to that of platinum. The incomplete cubane-like clusters (Mo{sub 3}S{sub 4}) efficiently catalyse the evolution of hydrogen when coupled to a p-type Si semiconductor that harvests red photons in the solar spectrum. The current densities at the reversible potential match the requirement of a photoelectrochemical hydrogen production system with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in excess of 10% (ref. 16). The experimental observations are supported by density functional theory calculations of the Mo{sub 3}S{sub 4} clusters adsorbed on the hydrogen-terminated Si(100) surface, providing insights into the nature of the active site.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- SLAC National Accelerator Lab., Menlo Park, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1029141
- Report Number(s):
- SLAC-PUB-14438
Journal ID: ISSN 1476-1122; TRN: US201123%%31
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-76SF00515
- Resource Type:
- Journal Article
- Journal Name:
- Nature Materials
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 10; Journal Issue: 6; Journal ID: ISSN 1476-1122
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 08 HYDROGEN; CATALYSTS; DENSITY FUNCTIONAL METHOD; EFFICIENCY; ENERGY SYSTEMS; HYDROGEN; HYDROGEN FUELS; HYDROGEN PRODUCTION; MOLECULAR CLUSTERS; MOLYBDENUM; PHOTOCATHODES; SILICON; SULFUR; CHEM, MATSCI
Citation Formats
Hou, Yidong. Bioinspired Molecular Co-Catalysts Bonded to a Silicon Photocathode for Solar Hydrogen Evolution. United States: N. p., 2011.
Web. doi:10.1038/nmat3008.
Hou, Yidong. Bioinspired Molecular Co-Catalysts Bonded to a Silicon Photocathode for Solar Hydrogen Evolution. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3008
Hou, Yidong. 2011.
"Bioinspired Molecular Co-Catalysts Bonded to a Silicon Photocathode for Solar Hydrogen Evolution". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat3008. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1029141.
@article{osti_1029141,
title = {Bioinspired Molecular Co-Catalysts Bonded to a Silicon Photocathode for Solar Hydrogen Evolution},
author = {Hou, Yidong},
abstractNote = {The production of fuels from sunlight represents one of the main challenges in the development of a sustainable energy system. Hydrogen is the simplest fuel to produce and although platinum and other noble metals are efficient catalysts for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution earth-abundant alternatives are needed for large-scale use. We show that bioinspired molecular clusters based on molybdenum and sulphur evolve hydrogen at rates comparable to that of platinum. The incomplete cubane-like clusters (Mo{sub 3}S{sub 4}) efficiently catalyse the evolution of hydrogen when coupled to a p-type Si semiconductor that harvests red photons in the solar spectrum. The current densities at the reversible potential match the requirement of a photoelectrochemical hydrogen production system with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency in excess of 10% (ref. 16). The experimental observations are supported by density functional theory calculations of the Mo{sub 3}S{sub 4} clusters adsorbed on the hydrogen-terminated Si(100) surface, providing insights into the nature of the active site.},
doi = {10.1038/nmat3008},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1029141},
journal = {Nature Materials},
issn = {1476-1122},
number = 6,
volume = 10,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2011},
month = {Tue Nov 08 00:00:00 EST 2011}
}