We report a hierarchically branched TiO(2) nanorod structure that serves as a model architecture for efficient photoelectrochemical devices as it simultaneously offers a large contact area with the electrolyte, excellent light-trapping characteristics, and a highly conductive pathway for charge carrier collection. Under Xenon lamp illumination (UV spectrum matched to AM 1.5G, 88 mW/cm(2) total power density), the branched TiO(2) nanorod array produces a photocurrent density of 0.83 mA/cm(2) at 0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE). The incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency reaches 67% at 380 nm with an applied bias of 0.6 V versus RHE, nearly two times higher than the bare nanorods without branches. The branches improve efficiency by means of (i) improved charge separation and transport within the branches due to their small diameters, and (ii) a 4-fold increase in surface area which facilitates the hole transfer at the TiO(2)/electrolyte interface.

We report a scalably synthesized WO3/BiVO4 core/shell nanowire photoanode in which BiVO4 is the primary light-absorber and WO3 acts as an electron conductor. These core/shell nanowires achieve the highest product of light absorption and charge separation efficiencies among BiVO4-based photoanodes to date and, even without an added catalyst, produce a photocurrent of 3.1 mA/cm(2) under simulated sunlight and an incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency of ∼ 60% at 300-450 nm, both at a potential of 1.23 V versus RHE.

Recent density-functional theory calculations suggest that codoping TiO 2 with donoracceptor pairs is more effective than monodoping for improving photoelectrochemical water-splitting performance because codoping can reduce charge recombination, improve material quality, enhance light absorption and increase solubility limits of dopants. Here we report a novel ex-situ method to codope TiO 2 with tungsten and carbon (W, C) by sequentially annealing W-precursor-coated TiO 2 nanowires in flame and carbon monoxide gas. The unique advantages of flame annealing are that the high temperature (41,000°C) and fast heating rate of flame enable rapid diffusion of W into TiO 2 without damaging the nanowire morphology and crystallinity. This is the first experimental demonstration that codoped TiO 2 :(W, C) nanowires outperform monodoped TiO 2 :W and TiO 2 :C and double the saturation photocurrent of undoped TiO 2 for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Such significant performance enhancement originates from a greatly improved electrical conductivity and activity for oxygen-evolution reaction due to the synergistic effects of codoping.

BiVO4 has become the top-performing semiconductor among photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. However, BiVO4 photoanodes are still limited to a fraction of the theoretically possible photocurrent at low applied voltages because of modest charge transport properties and a trade-off between light absorption and charge separation efficiencies. Here, we investigate photoanodes composed of thin layers of BiVO4 coated onto Sb-doped SnO2 (Sb:SnO2) nanorod-arrays (Sb:SnO2/BiVO4 NRAs) and demonstrate a high value for the product of light absorption and charge separation efficiencies (ηabs × ηsep) of ∼51% at an applied voltage of 0.6 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, as determined by integration of the quantum efficiency over the standard AM 1.5G spectrum. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the highest ηabs × ηsep efficiencies achieved to date at this voltage for nanowire-core/BiVO4-shell photoanodes. Moreover, although WO3 has recently been extensively studied as a core nanowire material for core/shell BiVO4 photoanodes, the Sb:SnO2/BiVO4 NRAs generate larger photocurrents, especially at low applied voltages. In addition, we present control experiments on planar Sb:SnO2/BiVO4 and WO3/BiVO4 heterojunctions, which indicate that Sb:SnO2 is more favorable as a core material. These results indicate that integration of Sb:SnO2 nanorod cores with other successful strategies such as doping and coating with oxygen evolution catalysts can move the performance of BiVO4 and related semiconductors closer to their theoretical potential.

We report an efficient hybrid Si microwire (radial junction) and planar solar cell with a maximum efficiency of 11.0% under AM 1.5G illumination. The maximum efficiency of the hybrid cell is improved from 7.2% to 11.0% by passivating the top surface and p-n junction with thin a-SiN:H and intrinsic poly-Si films, respectively, and is higher than that of planar cells of the identical layers due to increased light absorption and improved charge-carrier collections in both wires and planar components.

We report an atmospheric, catalyst-free, rapid flame synthesis technique for growing single, branched, and flower-like α-MoO(3) nanobelt arrays on diverse substrates. The growth rate, morphology, and surface coverage density of the α-MoO(3) nanobelts were controlled by varying the flame equivalence ratio, the source temperature, the growth substrate temperature, and the material and morphology of the growth substrate. This flame synthesis technique is a promising, alternative way to synthesize one-dimensional metal oxide nanostructures in general.

This paper describes a simple and yet rapid flame synthesis method to produce one-dimensional metal oxide nanostructures by directly oxidizing metals in the postflame region of a flat flame. Single and bicrystal alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanoflakes and CuO nanoneedles were grown in the postflame region by a solid diffusion mechanism and were aligned perpendicularly to the substrate with a surface coverage density of 10 nanostructures per square micrometer. The alpha-Fe(2)O(3) nanoflakes reached lengths exceeding 20 microm after only 20 min of growth. This rapid growth rate is attributed to a large initial heating rate of the metal substrate in the flame and to the presence of water vapor and carbon dioxide in the gas phase that together generate thin and porous oxide layers that greatly enhance the diffusion of the deficient metal to the nanostructure growth site and enable growth at higher temperatures than previously demonstrated.

Metal oxides with moderate band gaps are desired for efficient production of hydrogen from sunlight and water via photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Here, we report an α-SnWO photoanode synthesized by hydrothermal conversion of WO films that achieves photon to current conversion at wavelengths up to 700 nm (1.78 eV). This photoanode is promising for overall PEC water-splitting because the flat-band potential and voltage of photocurrent onset are more negative than the potential of hydrogen evolution. Furthermore, the photoanode utilizes a large portion of the solar spectrum. However, the photocurrent density reaches only a small fraction of that which is theoretically possible. Density functional theory based thermodynamic and electronic structure calculations were performed to elucidate the nature and impact of defects in α-SnWO prepared by this synthetic route, from which hole localization at Sn-at-W antisite defects was determined to be a likely cause for the poor photocurrent. Measurements further showed that the photocurrent decreases over time due to surface oxidation, which was suppressed by improving the kinetics of hole transfer at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface. Alternative synthetic methods and the addition of protective coatings and/or oxygen evolution catalysts are suggested to improve the PEC performance and stability of this promising α-SnWO material.