Tin Oxide as a Protective Heterojunction with Silicon for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation in Strongly Acidic or Alkaline Electrolytes

Moreno‐Hernandez, Ivan A.; Brunschwig, Bruce S.; Lewis, Nathan S.

doi:10.1002/aenm.201801155

Title: Tin Oxide as a Protective Heterojunction with Silicon for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation in Strongly Acidic or Alkaline Electrolytes

Journal Article · Sun Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201801155· OSTI ID:1458579

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Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering California Institute of Technology 210 Noyes Laboratory, 127–72, Pasadena CA 91125 USA
Molecular Materials Resource Center California Institute of Technology 313 Beckman Institute, 139–74 Pasadena CA 91125 USA

Abstract Photoelectrodes without a p–n junction are often limited in efficiency by charge recombination at semiconductor surfaces and slow charge transfer to electrocatalysts. This study reports that tin oxide (SnO _x ) layers applied to n‐Si wafers after forming a thin chemically oxidized SiO _x layer can passivate the Si surface while producing ≈620 mV photovoltage under 100 mW cm ⁻² of simulated sunlight. The SnO _x layer makes ohmic contacts to Ni, Ir, or Pt films that act as precatalysts for the oxygen‐evolution reaction (OER) in 1.0 m KOH(aq) or 1.0 m H ₂ SO ₄ (aq). Ideal regenerative solar‐to‐O ₂ (g) efficiencies of 4.1% and 3.7%, respectively, are obtained in 1.0 m KOH(aq) with Ni or in 1.0 m H ₂ SO ₄ (aq) with Pt/IrO _x layers as OER catalysts. Stable photocurrents for >100 h are obtained for electrodes with patterned catalyst layers in both 1.0 m KOH(aq) and 1.0 m H ₂ SO ₄ (aq).

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: DE‐SC0004993

OSTI ID:: 1458579

Journal Information:: Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Vol. 8 Journal Issue: 24; ISSN 1614-6832

Publisher:: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Germany

Language:: English

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Cited by: 29 works

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