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Inverse Opal CuCrO2 Photocathodes for H2 Production Using Organic Dyes and a Molecular Ni Catalyst.

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

Change log

Authors

Creissen, Charles E 
Warnan, Julien 
Antón-García, Daniel 
Farré, Yoann 
Odobel, Fabrice 

Abstract

Dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical (DSPEC) cells are an emerging approach to producing solar fuels. The recent development of delafossite CuCrO2 as a p-type semiconductor has enabled H2 generation through the coassembly of catalyst and dye components. Here, we present a CuCrO2 electrode based on a high-surface-area inverse opal (IO) architecture with benchmark performance in DSPEC H2 generation. Coimmobilization of a phosphonated diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP-P) or perylene monoimide (PMI-P) dye with a phosphonated molecular Ni catalyst (NiP) demonstrates the ability of IO-CuCrO2 to photogenerate H2. A positive photocurrent onset potential of approximately +0.8 V vs RHE was achieved with these photocathodes. The DPP-P-based photoelectrodes delivered photocurrents of -18 μA cm-2 and generated 160 ± 24 nmol of H2 cm-2, whereas the PMI-P-based photocathodes displayed higher photocurrents of -25 μA cm-2 and produced 215 ± 10 nmol of H2 cm-2 at 0.0 V vs RHE over the course of 2 h under visible light illumination (100 mW cm-2, AM 1.5G, λ > 420 nm, 25 °C). The high performance of the PMI-constructed system is attributed to the well-suited molecular structure and photophysical properties for p-type sensitization. These precious-metal-free photocathodes highlight the benefits of using bespoke IO-CuCrO2 electrodes as well as the important role of the molecular dye structure in DSPEC fuel synthesis.

Description

Keywords

Journal Title

ACS catalysis

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2155-5435

Volume Title

9

Publisher

Sponsorship
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (1800449)