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A Si photocathode protected and activated with a Ti and Ni composite film for solar hydrogen production.


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Authors

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

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.

Description

Keywords

hydrogen evolution, photocatalysis, photosynthesis, silicon, water splitting

Journal Title

Chemistry

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0947-6539
1521-3765

Volume Title

21

Publisher

Wiley
Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EP/H00338X/2)