Enhancing the Performance of Si-Based Photocathodes for Solar Hydrogen Production in Alkaline Solution by Facilely Intercalating a Sandwich N-Doped Carbon Nanolayer to the Interface of Si and TiO2

Sun, Xuran1; Jiang, Jian1; Yang, Yong1,2; Shan, Yu1; Gong, Lunlun1; Wang, Mei1

2019-05-29

10.1021/acsami.9b03757

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces   影响因子和分区

1944-8244

1944-8252

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising but immensely challenging technology for sustainable production of hydrogen. To this end, highly active, durable, and inexpensive photocathodes that operate under conditions compatible with those for photoanodes are desired. Herein, Si based composite photocathodes were constructed by coating the front surface of Si with an N-doped carbon nanolayer and then a TiO2 protective layer, followed by decorating the electrode surface with Ni and Ni-Mo catalysts. The carbon nanolayer, denoted as C-PDA, was formed directly on the Si surface by in situ self-polymerization of dopamine, followed by carbonization of the polydopamine (PDA) coating. The performance of the as fabricated Si photocathodes with and without the C-PDA layer was comparatively studied for PEC hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) in alkaline electrolytes to evaluate the effect of the sandwich C-PDA layer in between the Si substrate and the TiO2 layer on the photoelectrocatalytic behaviors of Si-based electrodes. The photocathodes containing the C-PDA layer demonstrated lower electron transfer resistance, higher built-in photovoltage, and larger band bending relative to the analogous electrodes without the C-PDA layer. Accordingly, the short-circuit photocurrents of the Ni and Ni-Mo-decorated photocathodes with the C-PDA layer were enhanced by a factor of 2.8-3.3, and their open-circuit photovoltages were enlarged by 0.14-0.22 V, compared to those of the corresponding electrodes without the C-PDA layer in 1 M KOH under simulated 1 sun illumination. Moreover, the photocathodes with the C-PDA layer also exhibited an improved stability for PEC HER in alkaline solutions, with a faradaic efficiency of 90-97% in the initial hour.

carbon coating hydrogen production photocathode photoelectrocatalysis silicon water reduction

SCI ; EI

英语

其他

Basic Research Program of China[2014CB239402]

Science & Technology - Other Topics ; Materials Science

Nanoscience & Nanotechnology ; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary

WOS:000470034700027

AMER CHEMICAL SOC

20192407024212

Amines ; Binary alloys ; Carbon ; Carbonization ; Coatings ; Doping (additives) ; Field emission cathodes ; Photocathodes ; Photoelectrochemical cells ; Potassium hydroxide ; Silicon ; Solar power generation ; Titanium dioxide

Gas Fuels:522 ; Nonferrous Metals and Alloys excluding Alkali and Alkaline Earth Metals:549.3 ; Solar Power:615.2 ; Electric Batteries:702.1 ; Electron Tubes:714.1 ; Chemical Reactions:802.2 ; Chemical Products Generally:804 ; Coating Materials:813.2

Web of Science

1.Dalian Univ Technol, State Key Lab Fine Chem, Dalian 116024, Peoples R China
2.Southern Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Chem, Shenzhen 518055, Peoples R China

Sun, Xuran,Jiang, Jian,Yang, Yong,et al. Enhancing the Performance of Si-Based Photocathodes for Solar Hydrogen Production in Alkaline Solution by Facilely Intercalating a Sandwich N-Doped Carbon Nanolayer to the Interface of Si and TiO2[J]. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces,2019,11(21):19132-19140.

Sun, Xuran,Jiang, Jian,Yang, Yong,Shan, Yu,Gong, Lunlun,&Wang, Mei.(2019).Enhancing the Performance of Si-Based Photocathodes for Solar Hydrogen Production in Alkaline Solution by Facilely Intercalating a Sandwich N-Doped Carbon Nanolayer to the Interface of Si and TiO2.ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces,11(21),19132-19140.

Sun, Xuran,et al."Enhancing the Performance of Si-Based Photocathodes for Solar Hydrogen Production in Alkaline Solution by Facilely Intercalating a Sandwich N-Doped Carbon Nanolayer to the Interface of Si and TiO2".ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 11.21(2019):19132-19140.