A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode

Gu, Jing; Aguiar, Jeffery A.; Ferrere, Suzanne; Steirer, K. Xerxes; Yan, Yong; Xiao, Chuanxiao; Young, James L.; Al-Jassim, Mowafak; Neale, Nathan R.; Turner, John A.

doi:10.1038/nenergy.2016.192

Title: A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode

Journal Article · Mon Jan 09 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Nature Energy

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.192· OSTI ID:1339236

Gu, Jing ^[1]; Aguiar, Jeffery A. ^[1]; Ferrere, Suzanne ^[1]; Steirer, K. Xerxes ^[1]; Yan, Yong ^[1]; Xiao, Chuanxiao ^[1]; Young, James L. ^[1]; Al-Jassim, Mowafak ^[1]; Neale, Nathan R. ^[1]; Turner, John A. ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Chemistry and Nanoscience Center

Achieving solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies above 15% is key for the commercial success of photoelectrochemical water splitting devices. While tandem cells can reach those efficiencies, increasing the catalytic activity and long-term stability remains a significant challenge. We show that annealing a bilayer of amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO_x) and molybdenum sulfide (MoS_x) deposited onto GaInP₂ results in a photocathode with high catalytic activity (current density of 11 mA/cm^-2 at 0 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode under 1 sun illumination) and stability (retention of 80% of initial photocurrent density over a 20 h durability test) for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Microscopy and spectroscopy reveal that annealing results in a graded MoS_x/MoO_x/TiO₂ layer that retains much of the high catalytic activity of amorphous MoS_x but with stability similar to crystalline MoS₂. These findings demonstrate the potential of utilizing a hybridized, heterogeneous surface layer as a cost-effective catalytic and protective interface for solar hydrogen production.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

OSTI ID:: 1339236

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5900-67483

Journal Information:: Nature Energy, Vol. 2; ISSN 2058-7546

Publisher:: Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 110 works

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14 SOLAR ENERGY
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
water-splitting
photocathodes
protective interface
graded MoSx/MoOx/TiO2 layer
catalytic activity

Title: A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode

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