Dual Protection Layer Strategy to Increase Photoelectrode–Catalyst Interfacial Stability: A Case Study on Black Silicon Photoelectrodes
[1]
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182‐1030 USA
- Idaho National Laboratory Nuclear Materials Department 2525 Fremont Avenue Idaho Falls ID 83415 USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182‐1030 USA, The Key Laboratory of Functional Molecular Solids Ministry of Education Anhui Laboratory of Molecule‐Based Materials (State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base) College of Chemistry and Materials Science Anhui Normal University Wuhu 241000 China
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry San Diego State University 5500 Campanile Drive San Diego CA 92182‐1030 USA, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Taishan University Taian 271021 China
Abstract Photoelectrode degradation under harsh solution conditions continues to be a major hurdle for long‐term operation and large‐scale implementation of solar fuel conversion. In this study, a dual‐layer TiO 2 protection strategy is presented to improve the interfacial durability between nanoporous black silicon and photocatalysts. Nanoporous silicon photocathodes decorated with catalysts are passivated twice, providing an intermediate TiO 2 layer between the substrate and catalyst and an additional TiO 2 layer on top of the catalysts. Atomic layer deposition of TiO 2 ensures uniform coverage of both the nanoporous silicon substrate and the catalysts. After 24 h of electrolysis at pH = 0.3, unprotected photocathodes layered with platinum and molybdenum sulfide retain only 30% and 20% of their photocurrent, respectively. At the same pH, photocathodes layered with TiO 2 experience an increase in photocurrent retention: 85% for platinum‐coated photocathodes and 91% for molybdenum sulfide–coated photocathodes. Under alkaline conditions, unprotected photocathodes experience a 95% loss in photocurrent within the first 4 h of electrolysis. In contrast, TiO 2 ‐protected photocathodes maintain 70% of their photocurrent during 12 h of electrolysis. This approach is quite general and may be employed as a protection strategy for a variety of photoabsorber–catalyst interfaces under both acidic and basic electrolyte conditions.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC07-05ID14517
- OSTI ID:
- 1496667
- Journal Information:
- Advanced Materials Interfaces, Journal Name: Advanced Materials Interfaces Journal Issue: 8 Vol. 6; ISSN 2196-7350
- Publisher:
- Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)Copyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- Germany
- Language:
- English
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