A Si Photocathode Protected and Activated with a Ti and Ni Composite Film for Solar Hydrogen Production

Lai, Yi-Hsuan; Park, Hyun S.; Zhang, Jenny Z.; Matthews, Peter D.; Wright, Dominic S.; Reisner, Erwin

Abstract

An efficient, stable and scalable hybrid photoelectrode for visible-light-driven H2 generation in an aqueous pH 9.2 electrolyte solution is reported. The photocathode consists of a p-type Si substrate layered with a Ti and Ni-containing composite film, which acts as both a protection and electrocatalyst layer on the Si substrate. The film is prepared by the simple drop casting of the molecular single-source precursor, [{Ti2(OEt)9(NiCl)}2] (TiNipre), onto the p-Si surface at room temperature, followed by cathodic in situ activation to form the catalytically active TiNi film (TiNicat). The p-Si|TiNicat photocathode exhibits prolonged hydrogen generation with a stable photocurrent of approximately −5 mA cm−2 at 0 V vs. RHE in an aqueous pH 9.2 borate solution for several hours, and serves as a benchmark non-noble photocathode for solar H2 evolution that operates efficiently under neutral–alkaline conditions.

Citation

Lai, Y., Park, H. S., Zhang, J. Z., Matthews, P. D., Wright, D. S., & Reisner, E. (2015). A Si Photocathode Protected and Activated with a Ti and Ni Composite Film for Solar Hydrogen Production. Chemistry - A European Journal, 21(10), 3919-3923. https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201406566

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Online Publication Date: Feb 4, 2015
• Publication Date: Mar 2, 2015
• Deposit Date: May 30, 2023
• Journal: Chemistry - A European Journal
• Print ISSN: 0947-6539
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 10
• Pages: 3919-3923
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201406566
• Keywords: General Chemistry; Catalysis; Organic Chemistry