Light-guided electrodeposition of non-noble catalyst patterns for photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution. Issue 12 (23rd October 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Sung Yul; Kim, Yang-Rae; Ha, Kyungyeon; Lee, Jong-Kwon; Lee, Jae Gyeong; Jang, Woohyuk; Lee, Jin-Young; Bae, Je Hyun; Chung, Taek Dong
• Is Part Of: Energy & environmental science. Volume 8:Issue 12(2015)
• Page Start: 3654
• Page End: 3662
• Publication Date: 2015-10-23
• Subjects: Energy conversion -- Periodicals; Fuel switching -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environmental chemistry -- Periodicals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1039/c5ee02863a
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1754-5692

Abstract

Abstract : For photoelectrochemical hydrogen production, a non-noble catalyst is directly patterned onto the photocathode using a light-guided electrodeposition technique. Abstract : Hydrogen is in the lime light as a carbon-free alternative energy source due to its high energy conversion efficiency. Solar-driven water splitting is one of the most promising methods for renewable hydrogen production. However, commercialization of a photoelectrochemical hydrogen production system remains a great challenge. One of the emerging concerns is the development of an inexpensive and transparent catalyst, which does not obstruct the light pathways to the semiconductor electrode. Here we report a non-noble metal electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution, Ni-Mo, which is directly patterned on amorphous Si (a-Si) by light-guided spatially selective electrodeposition without consecutive photolithography processes. A light pattern is illuminated onto the a-Si using a digital micromirror device to commence the photoelectrochemical deposition. The catalyst patterned by the proposed method not only admits sufficient light to a-Si but also enables long distance carrier transport along the inversion layer, as previously observed in crystalline Si (c-Si) photocathodes. This new electrodeposition method enables mask-free patterning on a-Si and is expected to expedite a lower cost, more efficient, and self-biasing integrated photoelectrochemical water-splitting device.