Unassisted HI photoelectrolysis using n-WSe 2 solar absorbers

McKone, James R.; Potash, Rebecca A.; DiSalvo, Francis J.; Abruña, Héctor D.

doi:10.1039/c5cp01192b

Title: Unassisted HI photoelectrolysis using n-WSe ₂ solar absorbers

Journal Article · Mon Apr 27 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c5cp01192b· OSTI ID:1370464

McKone, James R. ^[1]; Potash, Rebecca A. ^[1]; DiSalvo, Francis J. ^[1]; Abruña, Héctor D. ^[1]

Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

Molybdenum and tungsten diselenide are among the most robust and efficient semiconductor materials for photoelectrochemistry, but they have seen limited use for integrated solar energy storage systems. In this paper, we report that n-type WSe₂ photoelectrodes can facilitate unassisted aqueous HI electrolysis to H₂(g) and HI₃(aq) when placed in contact with a platinum counter electrode and illuminated by simulated sunlight. Even in strongly acidic electrolyte, the photoelectrodes are robust and operate very near their maximum power point. We have rationalized this behavior by characterizing the n-WSe₂|HI/HI₃ half cell, the Pt|HI/H₂||HI₃/HI|Pt full cell, and the n-WSe₂ band-edge positions. Importantly, specific interactions between the n-WSe₂ surface and aqueous iodide significantly shift the semiconductor’s flatband potential and allow for unassisted HI electrolysis. These findings exemplify the important role of interfacial chemical reactivity in influencing the energetics of semiconductor-liquid junctions and the resulting device performance.

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Research Organization:: Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRC) (United States). Energy Materials Center at Cornell (EMC2)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office; National Science Foundation (NSF)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0001086

OSTI ID:: 1370464

Journal Information:: Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. PCCP, Vol. 17, Issue 21; Related Information: Emc2 partners with Cornell University (lead); Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory; ISSN 1463-9076

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 11 works

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
tungsten diselenide
photoelectrochemistry
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electrolysis
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Title: Unassisted HI photoelectrolysis using n-WSe 2 solar absorbers

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Title: Unassisted HI photoelectrolysis using n-WSe ₂ solar absorbers