Spontaneous Formation of >90% Optically Transmissive, Electrochemically Active CoP Films for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution

Kempler, Paul A.; Fu, Harold J.; Ifkovits, Zachary P.; Papadantonakis, Kimberly M.; Lewis, Nathan S.

doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02926

Title: Spontaneous Formation of >90% Optically Transmissive, Electrochemically Active CoP Films for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution

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Abstract

Earth-abundant catalysts for the hydrogen-evolution reaction need increased mass loadings, relative to Pt films, to achieve comparable activity and stability in acidic electrolytes. We report herein that spontaneous nanostructuring of opaque, electrodeposited CoP films, 40–120 nm in thickness, leads to transparent electrocatalyst films that exhibit up to 90% optical transmission in the visible spectrum. The photocurrent density under simulated sunlight at a representative n⁺p-Si(100)/CoP photocathode increases by 200% after exposure to 0.50 M H₂SO₄(aq) and remains stable for 12 h of continuous operation. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the film before and after exposure to 0.50 M H₂SO₄(aq) validate an optical model for transparent CoP films as probed with spectroscopic ellipsometry.

Authors:

^[1]; Fu, Harold J. ^[1]; Ifkovits, Zachary P. ^[1]; Papadantonakis, Kimberly M. ^[1];

^[1]

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

Publication Date:: Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 EST 2019

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

Sponsoring Org.:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

OSTI Identifier:: 1633779

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0004993

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 11; Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 1948-7185

Publisher:: American Chemical Society

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY

Citation Formats


                    Kempler, Paul A., Fu, Harold J., Ifkovits, Zachary P., Papadantonakis, Kimberly M., and Lewis, Nathan S. Spontaneous Formation of >90% Optically Transmissive, Electrochemically Active CoP Films for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  doi:10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02926.

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                    Kempler, Paul A., Fu, Harold J., Ifkovits, Zachary P., Papadantonakis, Kimberly M., & Lewis, Nathan S. Spontaneous Formation of >90% Optically Transmissive, Electrochemically Active CoP Films for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02926

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                    Kempler, Paul A., Fu, Harold J., Ifkovits, Zachary P., Papadantonakis, Kimberly M., and Lewis, Nathan S. Mon .  
"Spontaneous Formation of >90% Optically Transmissive, Electrochemically Active CoP Films for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02926.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1633779.

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@article{osti_1633779,

  title        = {Spontaneous Formation of >90% Optically Transmissive, Electrochemically Active CoP Films for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution},

  author       = {Kempler, Paul A. and Fu, Harold J. and Ifkovits, Zachary P. and Papadantonakis, Kimberly M. and Lewis, Nathan S.},

  abstractNote = {Earth-abundant catalysts for the hydrogen-evolution reaction need increased mass loadings, relative to Pt films, to achieve comparable activity and stability in acidic electrolytes. We report herein that spontaneous nanostructuring of opaque, electrodeposited CoP films, 40–120 nm in thickness, leads to transparent electrocatalyst films that exhibit up to 90% optical transmission in the visible spectrum. The photocurrent density under simulated sunlight at a representative n+p-Si(100)/CoP photocathode increases by 200% after exposure to 0.50 M H2SO4(aq) and remains stable for 12 h of continuous operation. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the film before and after exposure to 0.50 M H2SO4(aq) validate an optical model for transparent CoP films as probed with spectroscopic ellipsometry.},

  doi          = {10.1021/acs.jpclett.9b02926},

  journal      = {Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters},

  number       = 1,

  volume       = 11,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 EST 2019},

  month        = {Mon Dec 02 00:00:00 EST 2019}

}

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