A monolithically integrated, intrinsically safe, 10% efficient, solar-driven water-splitting system based on active, stable earth-abundant electrocatalysts in conjunction with tandem III–V light absorbers protected by amorphous TiO2 films

Verlage, Erik; Hu, Shu; Liu, Rui; Jones, Ryan J.  R.; Sun, Ke; Xiang, Chengxiang; Lewis, Nathan S.; Atwater, Harry A.

doi:10.1039/c5ee01786f

Title: A monolithically integrated, intrinsically safe, 10% efficient, solar-driven water-splitting system based on active, stable earth-abundant electrocatalysts in conjunction with tandem III–V light absorbers protected by amorphous TiO₂ films

Journal Article · Tue Aug 18 00:00:00 EDT 2015 · Energy & Environmental Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ee01786f· OSTI ID:1633789

Verlage, Erik ^[1]; Hu, Shu ^[1]; Liu, Rui ^[1]; Jones, Ryan J. R. ^[1]; Sun, Ke ^[1]; Xiang, Chengxiang ^[1]; Lewis, Nathan S. ^[1]; Atwater, Harry A. ^[1]

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

A monolithically integrated device consisting of a tandem-junction GaAs/InGaP photoanode coated by an amorphous TiO₂ stabilization layer, in conjunction with Ni-based, earth-abundant active electrocatalysts for the hydrogen-evolution and oxygen-evolution reactions, was used to effect unassisted, solar-driven water splitting in 1.0 M KOH(aq). When connected to a Ni–Mo-coated counterelectrode in a two-electrode cell configuration, the TiO₂-protected III–V tandem device exhibited a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, η_STH, of 10.5% under 1 sun illumination, with stable performance for >40 h of continuous operation at an efficiency of η_STH > 10%. The protected tandem device also formed the basis for a monolithically integrated, intrinsically safe solar-hydrogen prototype system (1 cm²) driven by a NiMo/GaAs/InGaP/TiO₂/Ni structure. The intrinsically safe system exhibited a hydrogen production rate of 0.81 μL s^–1 and a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of 8.6% under 1 sun illumination in 1.0 M KOH(aq), with minimal product gas crossover while allowing for beneficial collection of separate streams of H₂(g) and O₂(g).

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

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0004993; GBMF1225

OSTI ID:: 1633789

Journal Information:: Energy & Environmental Science, Vol. 8, Issue 11; ISSN 1754-5692

Publisher:: Royal Society of ChemistryCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Title: A monolithically integrated, intrinsically safe, 10% efficient, solar-driven water-splitting system based on active, stable earth-abundant electrocatalysts in conjunction with tandem III–V light absorbers protected by amorphous TiO₂ films