A facile, one-step electroless deposition of NiFeOOH nanosheets onto photoanodes for highly durable and efficient solar water oxidation. Issue 42 (14th September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Suryawanshi, Mahesh P.; Shin, Seung Wook; Ghorpade, Uma V.; Kim, Jihun; Jeong, Hye Won; Kang, Soon Hyung; Kim, Jin Hyeok
• Is Part Of: Journal of materials chemistry. Volume 6:Issue 42(2018)
• Page Start: 20678
• Page End: 20685
• Publication Date: 2018-09-14
• Subjects: Materials -- Research -- Periodicals; Chemistry, Analytic -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Research -- Periodicals; 543.0284
• DOI: 10.1039/c8ta07343k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2050-7488

Abstract

Abstract : A TiO2 /NiFeOOH core/shell nanostructured photoanode is fabricated using a facile, one-step electroless deposition method for efficient and durable solar water oxidation. Abstract : A low-cost, highly efficient and durable photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting system can be realized through designing a hierarchical core/shell nanostructured photoanode entirely composed of Earth-abundant elements. Herein, we report the rational design of a core/shell nanostructured photoanode with a TiO2 nanorod (NR) array as the core and a highly active Earth-abundant NiFe oxyhydroxide ((Ni1− x Fe x )OOH, NiFeOOH) oxygen evolution catalyst (OEC) as the shell for PEC water oxidation. Specifically, the NiFeOOH nanosheets were prepared via a facile, one-step electroless deposition method for a short reaction time of 10 min at room temperature. The TiO2 /NiFeOOH core/shell nanostructured photoanode exhibits an unprecedented enhancement in photocurrent density (3.85 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode, (RHE)), no decay in photocurrent density over 24 h, and an obvious cathodic onset potential shift of 133 mV compared to the TiO2 NRs (0.73 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs. RHE). The electron transfer mechanism is discussed through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy studies and calculated band alignments via ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy characterization. This work not only suggests a simple, room temperature electroless strategy for integrating Earth-abundant catalysts with photoanodes, but also accelerates the development of rationally designed core/shell photoanodes for efficient and durable solar water oxidation.