A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode
Abstract
Achieving solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies above 15% is key for the commercial success of photoelectrochemical water splitting devices. While tandem cells can reach those efficiencies, increasing the catalytic activity and long-term stability remains a significant challenge. We show that annealing a bilayer of amorphous titanium dioxide (TiOx) and molybdenum sulfide (MoSx) deposited onto GaInP2 results in a photocathode with high catalytic activity (current density of 11 mA/cm-2 at 0 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode under 1 sun illumination) and stability (retention of 80% of initial photocurrent density over a 20 h durability test) for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Microscopy and spectroscopy reveal that annealing results in a graded MoSx/MoOx/TiO2 layer that retains much of the high catalytic activity of amorphous MoSx but with stability similar to crystalline MoS2. These findings demonstrate the potential of utilizing a hybridized, heterogeneous surface layer as a cost-effective catalytic and protective interface for solar hydrogen production.
- Authors:
-
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Chemistry and Nanoscience Center
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1339236
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5900-67483
Journal ID: ISSN 2058-7546
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Nature Energy
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 2; Journal ID: ISSN 2058-7546
- Publisher:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; water-splitting; photocathodes; protective interface; graded MoSx/MoOx/TiO2 layer; catalytic activity
Citation Formats
Gu, Jing, Aguiar, Jeffery A., Ferrere, Suzanne, Steirer, K. Xerxes, Yan, Yong, Xiao, Chuanxiao, Young, James L., Al-Jassim, Mowafak, Neale, Nathan R., and Turner, John A. A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode. United States: N. p., 2017.
Web. doi:10.1038/nenergy.2016.192.
Gu, Jing, Aguiar, Jeffery A., Ferrere, Suzanne, Steirer, K. Xerxes, Yan, Yong, Xiao, Chuanxiao, Young, James L., Al-Jassim, Mowafak, Neale, Nathan R., & Turner, John A. A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode. United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.192
Gu, Jing, Aguiar, Jeffery A., Ferrere, Suzanne, Steirer, K. Xerxes, Yan, Yong, Xiao, Chuanxiao, Young, James L., Al-Jassim, Mowafak, Neale, Nathan R., and Turner, John A. Mon .
"A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode". United States. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2016.192. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1339236.
@article{osti_1339236,
title = {A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode},
author = {Gu, Jing and Aguiar, Jeffery A. and Ferrere, Suzanne and Steirer, K. Xerxes and Yan, Yong and Xiao, Chuanxiao and Young, James L. and Al-Jassim, Mowafak and Neale, Nathan R. and Turner, John A.},
abstractNote = {Achieving solar-to-hydrogen efficiencies above 15% is key for the commercial success of photoelectrochemical water splitting devices. While tandem cells can reach those efficiencies, increasing the catalytic activity and long-term stability remains a significant challenge. We show that annealing a bilayer of amorphous titanium dioxide (TiOx) and molybdenum sulfide (MoSx) deposited onto GaInP2 results in a photocathode with high catalytic activity (current density of 11 mA/cm-2 at 0 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode under 1 sun illumination) and stability (retention of 80% of initial photocurrent density over a 20 h durability test) for the hydrogen evolution reaction. Microscopy and spectroscopy reveal that annealing results in a graded MoSx/MoOx/TiO2 layer that retains much of the high catalytic activity of amorphous MoSx but with stability similar to crystalline MoS2. These findings demonstrate the potential of utilizing a hybridized, heterogeneous surface layer as a cost-effective catalytic and protective interface for solar hydrogen production.},
doi = {10.1038/nenergy.2016.192},
journal = {Nature Energy},
number = ,
volume = 2,
place = {United States},
year = {2017},
month = {1}
}
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