1. A Si Photocathode Protected and Activated with a Ti and Ni Composite Film for Solar Hydrogen Production
- Author
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Lai, Yi-Hsuan, Park, Hyun S, Zhang, Jenny Z, Matthews, Peter D, Wright, Dominic S, Reisner, Erwin, Zhang, Jenny [0000-0003-4407-5621], Wright, Dominic [0000-0002-9952-3877], Reisner, Erwin [0000-0002-7781-1616], and Apollo - University of Cambridge Repository
- Subjects
hydrogen evolution ,photosynthesis ,silicon ,photocatalysis ,water splitting ,Communications - 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.
- Published
- 2015