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Solar Water Oxidation by an InGaN Nanowire Photoanode with a Bandgap of 1.7 eV

Journal Article · · ACS Energy Letters
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [4];  [3];  [4];  [3];  [3];  [2]
  1. McGill University, Quebec (Canada); University of Michigan
  2. McGill University, Quebec (Canada); University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
  3. McGill University, Quebec (Canada)
  4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)

The performance of overall solar water splitting has been largely limited by the half-reaction of water oxidation. Here, we report a 1.7 eV bandgap InGaN nanowire photoanode for efficient solar water oxidation. It produces a low onset potential of 0.1 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a high photocurrent density of 5.2 mA/cm2 at a potential as low as 0.6 V versus RHE. The photoanode yields a half-cell solar energy conversion efficiency up to 3.6%, a record for a single-photon photoanode to our knowledge. Furthermore, in the presence of hole scavengers, the photocurrent density of the InGaN photoanode reaches 21.2 mA/cm2 at 1.23 V versus RHE, which approaches the theoretical limit for a 1.7 eV InGaN absorber. Furthermore, the InGaN nanowire photoanode may serve as an ideal top cell in a photoelectrochemical tandem device when stacked with a 0.9–1.2 eV bandgap bottom cell, which can potentially deliver solar-to-hydrogen efficiency over 25%.

Research Organization:
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
EE0008086; SC0011385
OSTI ID:
1984375
Journal Information:
ACS Energy Letters, Journal Name: ACS Energy Letters Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 3; ISSN 2380-8195
Publisher:
American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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