Sputtered NiOx Films for Stabilization of p+n-InP Photoanodes for Solar-Driven Water Oxidation

Sun, Ke; Kuang, Yanjin; Verlage, Erik; Brunschwig, Bruce S.; Tu, Charles W.; Lewis, Nathan S.

doi:10.1002/aenm.201402276

Sputtered NiO_x Films for Stabilization of p⁺n-InP Photoanodes for Solar-Driven Water Oxidation

Journal Article · Wed Mar 18 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Advanced Energy Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.201402276· OSTI ID:1633791

Sun, Ke ^[1]; Kuang, Yanjin ^[2]; Verlage, Erik ^[3]; Brunschwig, Bruce S. ^[3]; Tu, Charles W. ^[2]; Lewis, Nathan S. ^[3]

California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States); California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
Univ. of California, San Diego, CA (United States)
California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)

A reactively sputtered NiO_x film has been used here to stabilize a buried-junction p⁺n-InP photoanode from anodic dissolution/corrosion for > 48 h of continuous light-driven evolution of O₂(g) in 1.0 M KOH(aq) as well as in an aqueous electrolyte buffered at near-neutral pH. Under 1-Sun Air Mass (AM) 1.5G simulated solar illumination, NiO_x-protected p⁺n-InP photoanodes produced photocurrent-onset potentials of -370 ± 10 mV referenced to the equilibrium potential for evolution of O₂(g), light-limited photocurrent densities of 20.5 ± 0.3 mA cm^-2, and photocurrent densities of 17.5 ± 0.4 mA cm^-2 at the equilibrium potential for evolution of O₂(g), while evolving O₂(g) from 1.0 M KOH(aq) with 100% Faradaic yield. Furthermore, during 48 h of continuous operation, the total charge passed through the electrode, ~4600 C cm^-2, exceeded by a factor of at least 10 the amount of charge required to anodically dissolve or oxidize the entire InP substrate.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: California Institute of Technology (CalTech), Pasadena, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation; National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0004993

OSTI ID:: 1633791

Journal Information:: Advanced Energy Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Energy Materials Journal Issue: 11 Vol. 5; ISSN 1614-6832

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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