Proceedings of September Meeting 2016 (NFM16)
Publication date: 14th June 2016
High-efficiency direct solar-to-fuel energy conversion can be achieved using a photoelectrochemical (PEC) device consisting of an n-type photoanode in tandem with a p-type photocathode. However, the development of robust and inexpensive photoelectrodes are needed to make PEC devices economically viable. In this presentation our laboratory’s progress in the development new materials for economically-prepared, high performance photoelectrodes will be discussed along with the application toward overall PEC water splitting tandem cells for H2 production. Specifically, this talk will focus on the application of ternary oxide CuFeO2 and 2D transition metal dicalcogenides as solution-processed photoelectrodes. With respect to CuFeO2, in our recent work [1] we demonstrate state-of-the-art sacrificial p-type photocurrent with optimized nanostructuring. Recent results addressing interfacial recombination by the electrochemical characterization of the surface states will be presented along with approaches to overcome the limitations of this material. In addition, two-dimensional (2-D) transition metal dicalcogenides (TMDs) generally have intriguing electronic properties making them promising candidates for high-efficiency solar energy conversion (e.g. WSe2). However, it is notoriously difficult to fabricate thin films of 2-D TMDs over the large areas required to convert solar energy on a practical scale. We recently developed a simple method to fabricate high-quality thin films of 2-D layered TMDs at low cost and with good efficiency towards solar-to-fuel energy conversion [2]. The challenges with charge transport, separation and water redox catalysis in these systems will also be discussed with respect to the 2D flake dimensions.
References
[1] Prevot, M. S.; Li, Y.; Guijarro, N.; Sivula, K. J. Mater. Chem. A 2016, 4, 3018-3026.
[2] Yu, X.; Prevot, M. S.; Guijarro, N.; Sivula, K., Nat. Commun. 2015, 6, 7596.