Dissociating Water at n‐Si Photoanodes Partially Covered with Fe Catalysts. Issue 3 (9th December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Oh, Kiseok; Dorcet, Vincent; Fabre, Bruno; Loget, Gabriel
• Is Part Of: Advanced energy materials. Volume 10:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2019-12-09
• Subjects: iron -- oxygen evolution reaction -- photoelectrochemistry -- Schottky junction -- silicon; Energy harvesting -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy conversion -- Materials -- Periodicals; Energy storage -- Materials -- Periodicals; Photovoltaics -- Periodicals; Fuel cells -- Periodicals; Thermoelectric materials -- Periodicals; 621.31
• DOI: 10.1002/aenm.201902963
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1614-6832

Abstract

Abstract: Stable, efficient, and low‐cost photoanodes are urgently required for manufacturing water‐splitting photoelectrochemical cells. Although silicon is a promising photoelectrode substrate, photocorrosion prevents its use in such devices, especially when employed as photoanodes for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, it is shown that Fe nanoparticles (NPs), deposited by cathodic electrodeposition onto n‐Si, can promote hole transfer for the OER. The influence of the surface coverage, the Si structure, as well as the electrolyte are studied here in detail. It is reported that the NP density and the Si structuration drastically affect the photoelectrochemical performance and that the electrolyte influences the stability, allowing operation times as long as 130 h for these inhomogeneously coated photoelectrodes. Abstract : Silicon is a promising photoelectrode substrate, however, its low stability prevents its use as a photoanode for oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Here, it is shown that Fe nanoparticles, electrodeposited onto n‐Si, can promote hole transfer for OER. The influence of the Si surface coverage, the Si structure, as well as the electrolyte pH are studied in detail.