Chemically derivatized n-type semiconducting germanium photoelectrodes. Persistent attachment and photoelectrochemical activity of ferrocene derivatives

Journal Article · Wed Aug 16 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ja00485a001· OSTI ID:6547080

Bolts, J M; Wrighton, M S

Attachment of trichlorosilylferrocene (I) and (1,1'-ferrocenediyl)dichlorosilane (II) to pretreated n-type Ge surfaces by hydrolytic reaction is described. Characterization of the derivatized surface by cyclic voltammetry in C/sub 2/H/sub 5/OH or CH/sub 3/CN solutions of 0.1 M (n-Bu/sub 4/N)ClO/sub 4/ shows persistently attached electroactive groups. Cyclic waves persist for hundreds of scans between oxidized and reduced form of the attached electroactive species. The position of the anodic current peak depends on the illumination intensity, though an anodic peak does obtain in the dark at approximately 0.5 V vs. SCE for attached I or II. Illumination moves the anodic peak by up to approximately 200 mV more negative, consistent with expected photoeffects for an n-type semiconductor. Comparison of the derivatized electrode with a naked n-type Ge photoelectrode exposed to electrolyte solutions of ferrocene shows that the interface energetics and kinetics are essentially unchanged by the surface derivatization. Conversion of light to electricity using an n-Ge-based photoelectrochemical cell is possible, but output parameters are very low for an electrolyte solution containing ferrocene and ferricenium. 10 figures.

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 6547080
• Journal Information: J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Am. Chem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 100:17; ISSN JACSA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400400 -- Electrochemistry
400500* -- Photochemistry
ALCOHOLS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPLEXES
CYANIDES
DECOMPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ELEMENTS
ETHANOL
GERMANIUM
HYDROLYSIS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IRON COMPLEXES
LYSIS
MEDIUM TEMPERATURE
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
REDOX REACTIONS
SOLVOLYSIS
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES