Publication date: 15th December 2014
The development of photoelectrochemical cells capable of mimicking the natural photosynthesis by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen under sunlight irradiation has attracted significant interest motivated by the need to secure the future supply of clean and sustainable energy. In terms of photoconversion efficiency, the most viable cell configuration seems to be a tandem of spatially separated photocathodes and photoanodes, driving the reduction and oxidation of water, respectively.[1-2] A major challenge of photoelectrochemical water splitting devices is the development of low-cost, efficient and stable photoanodes. A closer look at the requirements for the photoanode properties reveals that, when combined with a Si-based photocathode (1.1 eV), the photoanode bandgap should be ca. 1.6-1.8 eV and its photocurrent onset (i.e. its quasi-Fermi level of electrons) at ca. 0 V vs. RHE. There are currently no materials fulfilling such criteria, and new materials must be developed.
Motivated by this need, the contribution will discuss our work on three different classes of absorber materials for efficient photoanodes:[3-7] (i) inorganic-organic hybrid photoanodes, (ii) undoped and doped ternary oxides, and (iii) doped III-V semiconductors. The focus will be on the problem of interfacing the light absorbers with different types of cocatalysts allowing for efficient oxygen evolution, without inducing substantial losses due to undesired junction effects. Furthermore, the key role of the electrolyte on the photoanode performance, and of photoelectrochemical and spectroscopic methods for elucidation of the mechanistic aspects of photoelectrocatalytic reactions will be discussed.
References:
[1] A. J. Nozik, Appl. Phys. Lett. 1976, 29, 150.
[2] S. Hu, C. Xiang, S. Haussener, A. D. Berger, N. S. Lewis, Energy Environ. Sci. 2013, 6, 2984.
[3] M. Bledowski, L. Wang, A. Ramakrishnan, O. V. Khavryuchenko, V. D. Khavryuchenko, P. C. Ricci, J. Strunk, T. Cremer, C. Kolbeck, R. Beranek, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2011, 13, 21511.
[4] L. Wang, M. Bledowski, A. Ramakrishnan, D. König, A. Ludwig, R. Beranek, J. Electrochem. Soc. 2012, 159, H616.
[5] M. Bledowski, L. Wang, A. Ramakrishnan, A. Bétard, O. V. Khavryuchenko, R. Beranek, ChemPhysChem 2012, 13, 3018.
[6] M. Bledowski, L. Wang, A. Ramakrishnan, R. Beranek, J. Mater. Res. 2013, 28, 411.
[7] M. Bledowski, L. Wang, S. Neubert, D. Mitoraj, R. Beranek, J. Phys. Chem. C 2014, 118, 18951.
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