Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems Article 2020

A Hierarchical 3D TiO2/Ni Nanostructure as an Efficient Hole‐Extraction and Protection Layer for GaAs Photoanodes

Thumb ticker sm jeong  hyeon ho2
Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems
  • Postdoctoral Researcher
Thumb ticker sm lee  tung chun  john
Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems
PostDoc, now Lecturer, Institute for Materials Discovery, University College London
Thumb ticker sm peer fischer portrait
Micro, Nano, and Molecular Systems
Professor
Chemsuschem2020

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising clean route to hydrogen fuel. The best‐performing materials (III/V semiconductors) require surface passivation, as they are liable to corrosion, and a surface co‐catalyst to facilitate water splitting. At present, optimal design combining photoelectrodes with oxygen evolution catalysts remains a significant materials challenge. Here, we demonstrate that nickel‐coated amorphous three‐dimensional (3D) TiO2 core‐shell nanorods on a TiO2 thin film function as an efficient hole‐extraction layer and serve as a protection layer for the GaAs photoanode. Transient‐absorption spectroscopy (TAS) demonstrated the role of nickel‐coated (3D) TiO2 core‐shell nanorods in prolonging photogenerated charge lifetimes in GaAs, resulting in a higher catalytic activity. This strategy may open the potential of utilizing this low‐cost (3D) nanostructured catalyst for decorating narrow‐band‐gap semiconductor photoanodes for PEC water splitting devices.

Author(s): Alqahtani, M. and Kafizas, A. and Sathasivam, S. and Ebaid, M. and Cui, F. and Alymani, A. and Jeong, H.-H, and Lee, T.-C. and Fischer, P. and Parkin, I. and Grätzel, M. and Wu, J.
Journal: ChemSusChem
Volume: 13
Number (issue): 22
Pages: 6028--6036
Year: 2020
Month: September
Day: 28
Bibtex Type: Article (article)
DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202002004
URL: https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cssc.202002004
Electronic Archiving: grant_archive

BibTex

@article{2020chemsuschem,
  title = {A Hierarchical 3D TiO2/Ni Nanostructure as an Efficient Hole‐Extraction and Protection Layer for GaAs Photoanodes},
  journal = {ChemSusChem},
  abstract = {Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising clean route to hydrogen fuel. The best‐performing materials (III/V semiconductors) require surface passivation, as they are liable to corrosion, and a surface co‐catalyst to facilitate water splitting. At present, optimal design combining photoelectrodes with oxygen evolution catalysts remains a significant materials challenge. Here, we demonstrate that nickel‐coated amorphous three‐dimensional (3D) TiO2 core‐shell nanorods on a TiO2 thin film function as an efficient hole‐extraction layer and serve as a protection layer for the GaAs photoanode. Transient‐absorption spectroscopy (TAS) demonstrated the role of nickel‐coated (3D) TiO2 core‐shell nanorods in prolonging photogenerated charge lifetimes in GaAs, resulting in a higher catalytic activity. This strategy may open the potential of utilizing this low‐cost (3D) nanostructured catalyst for decorating narrow‐band‐gap semiconductor photoanodes for PEC water splitting devices.},
  volume = {13},
  number = {22},
  pages = {6028--6036},
  month = sep,
  year = {2020},
  slug = {2020chemsuschem},
  author = {Alqahtani, M. and Kafizas, A. and Sathasivam, S. and Ebaid, M. and Cui, F. and Alymani, A. and Jeong, H.-H and Lee, T.-C. and Fischer, P. and Parkin, I. and Gr{\"a}tzel, M. and Wu, J.},
  url = {https://chemistry-europe.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cssc.202002004},
  month_numeric = {9}
}