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Title: A multifunctional biphasic water splitting catalyst tailored for integration with high-performance semiconductor photoanodes

Journal Article · · Nature Materials
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat4794· OSTI ID:1379751
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [2];  [2];  [3]; ORCiD logo [4];  [5];  [5];  [1]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Chemical Sciences Division
  2. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Advanced Light Source
  3. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging
  4. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging
  5. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States). Molecular Foundry, Materials Science Division

Artificial photosystems are advanced by the development of conformal catalytic materials that promote desired chemical transformations, while also maintaining stability and minimizing parasitic light absorption for integration on surfaces of semiconductor light absorbers. We demonstrate that multifunctional, nanoscale catalysts that enable high-performance photoelectrochemical energy conversion can be engineered by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The collective properties of tailored Co 3 O 4 /Co(OH) 2 thin films simultaneously provide high activity for water splitting, permit efficient interfacial charge transport from semiconductor substrates, and enhance durability of chemically sensitive interfaces. Furthermore, these films comprise compact and continuous nanocrystalline Co 3 O 4 spinel that is impervious to phase transformation and impermeable to ions, thereby providing effective protection of the underlying substrate. Moreover, a secondary phase of structurally disordered and chemically labile Co(OH) 2 is introduced to ensure a high concentration of catalytically active sites. Application of this coating to photovoltaic p + n-Si junctions yields best reported performance characteristics for crystalline Si photoanodes.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; SC0004993
OSTI ID:
1379751
Journal Information:
Nature Materials, Vol. 16, Issue 3; ISSN 1476-1122
Publisher:
Nature Publishing GroupCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 183 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Strategies for Semiconductor/Electrocatalyst Coupling toward Solar‐Driven Water Splitting journal March 2020
Photoelectrocatalytic Materials for Solar Water Splitting journal May 2018
Light‐Induced Activation of Adaptive Junction for Efficient Solar‐Driven Oxygen Evolution: In Situ Unraveling the Interfacial Metal–Silicon Junction journal July 2019
Layered Double Hydroxide Nanosheets with Multiple Vacancies Obtained by Dry Exfoliation as Highly Efficient Oxygen Evolution Electrocatalysts journal April 2017
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High‐Performance and Stable Silicon Photoanode Modified by Crystalline Ni@ Amorphous Co Core‐Shell Nanoparticles journal October 2018
Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation on BiVO 4 with Mesoporous Cobalt Nitride Sheets as Oxygen-Evolution Cocatalysts: Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation on BiVO 4 with Mesoporous Cobalt Nitride Sheets as Oxygen-Evolution Cocatalysts journal May 2018
Electrochemical Water Oxidation Catalysed by CoO-Co 2 O 3 -Co(OH) 2 Multiphase-Nanoparticles Prepared by Femtosecond Laser Ablation in Water journal May 2018
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First-Row Transition Metal Based Catalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction under Alkaline Conditions: Basic Principles and Recent Advances journal September 2017
Edge-Riched MoSe 2 /MoO 2 Hybrid Electrocatalyst for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction journal February 2018
Transition-Metal-Based Electrocatalysts as Cocatalysts for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: A Mini Review journal March 2018
Surface Engineering of Nanomaterials for Photo-Electrochemical Water Splitting journal November 2018
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Ultrathin CoO x -modified hematite with low onset potential for solar water oxidation journal January 2017
Fabrication of strong bifunctional electrocatalytically active hybrid Cu–Cu 2 O nanoparticles in a carbon matrix journal January 2018
Wafer-scale synthesis of ultrathin CoO nanosheets with enhanced electrochemical catalytic properties journal January 2017
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Crowd oil not crude oil text January 2019