Unassisted solar-driven photoelectrosynthetic HI splitting using membrane-embedded Si microwire arrays

Ardo, Shane; Park, Sang Hee; Warren, Emily L.; Lewis, Nathan S.

doi:10.1039/c5ee00227c

Unassisted solar-driven photoelectrosynthetic HI splitting using membrane-embedded Si microwire arrays

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Energy & Environmental Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ee00227c· OSTI ID:1457530

Ardo, Shane ^[1]; Park, Sang Hee ^[2]; Warren, Emily L. ^[3]; Lewis, Nathan S. ^[4]

California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; CALTECH, Div Chem & Chem Engn, 1200 E Calif Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125 USA
California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Thomas J. Watson Laboratories of Applied Physics
California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering
California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Beckman Institute, and Kavli Nanoscience Institute; Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Pasadena, CA (United States)

Free-standing, membrane-embedded, Si microwire arrays have been used to affect the solar-driven, unassisted splitting of HI into H₂ and I₃-. The Si microwire arrays were grown by a chemical-vapor-deposition vapor–liquid–solid growth process using Cu growth catalysts, with a radial n⁺p junction then formed on each microwire. A Nafion proton-exchange membrane was introduced between the microwires and Pt electrocatalysts were then photoelectrochemically deposited on the microwires. The composite Si/Pt–Nafion membrane was mechanically removed from the growth substrate, and Pt electrocatalysts were then also deposited on the back side of the structure. The resulting membrane-bound Si microwire arrays spontaneously split concentrated HI into H₂(g) and I₃- under 1 Sun of simulated solar illumination. The reaction products (i.e. H₂ and I₃-) were confirmed by mass spectrometry and ultraviolet–visible electronic absorption spectroscopy.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: California Inst. of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States). Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE); USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0004993

OSTI ID:: 1457530

Journal Information:: Energy & Environmental Science, Journal Name: Energy & Environmental Science Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 8; ISSN EESNBY; ISSN 1754-5692

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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