Improved photoelectrochemical hydrogen evolution using a defect-passivated Al2O3 thin film on p-Si

Establishing the Role of Operating Potential and Mass Transfer in Multicarbon Product Generation for Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction Cells Using a Cu Catalyst

“…Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells have attracted considerable attention for their potential to convert solar energy directly into chemical bonds, easing storage and transport concerns. − While significant research has focused on PEC water splitting to generate hydrogen, ,,− PEC carbon dioxide reduction (CO 2 R) has only recently begun to receive substantial interest for generating fuels and chemicals from CO 2 directly. − …”

“…While the model presented here can predict general PV performance requirements for high STC 2+ , it is inadequate for predicting specific semiconductor properties to achieve a set performance level because of the simplicity of the semiconductor physics. Other factors, such as dry- vs wet-side illumination, semiconductor doping concentration, band bending, interfacial barrier heights, and surface defects, are neglected but will ultimately influence PV performance. ,,− , We also do not address the form of the Cu catalyst, i.e., whether it is a thin film or nanoparticles, recognizing that these factors also impact PEC performance by altering the electrochemically active surface area, kinetics, fraction of reflected light, and the Schottky barrier height. ,, Incorporating such factors is outside the scope of this current study, which is to provide general performance guidelines for achieving high STC 2+ rates. Moreover, their impact on PEC performance is implicitly seen when altering illumination intensity, series resistance, and shunt resistance because they principally modify the photocurrent, photovoltage, and fill factor (Figure S1).…”

“…Other factors, such as dry-vs wet-side illumination, semiconductor doping concentration, band bending, interfacial barrier heights, and surface defects, are neglected but will ultimately influence PV performance. 1,5,[9][10][11]42 We also do not address the form of the Cu catalyst, i.e., whether it is a thin film or nanoparticles, recognizing that these factors also impact PEC performance by altering the electrochemically active surface area, kinetics, fraction of reflected light, and the Schottky barrier height. 1,42,43 Incorporating such factors is outside the scope of this current study, which is to provide general performance guidelines for achieving high STC 2+ rates.…”

Engineering Heterogeneous NiS2/NiS Cocatalysts with Progressive Electron Transfer from Planar p‐Si Photocathodes for Solar Hydrogen Evolution

“…Such an exposed defect domain, as a derivation of the catalytic properties of metal‐based materials, not only favored an improved electron transfer rate; it also generated additional effective active sites for PEC‐HER. [ 37–39 ] Compared with the selected area electron diffraction (SAED) images of the pure‐phase NiS 2 or NiS (insets of Figure 2B2,C2), the diffraction rings of NNH were indexed to (100), (111), and (221) for NiS 2 , and those of NiS (300) and (211) are displayed in the inset of Figure 2A3. Moreover, the elemental mapping images (Figure 2A3) of NNH revealed a uniform distribution of the Ni element (red) and the evident inhomogeneous distribution of the S element (green) in the host structure in which the density of the S element was equal to that of the Ni element in some areas, while it was significantly denser than the Ni element in the other adjacent areas.…”

Advanced nanostructuring and gradient phosphorus doping enhance p-Si photocathode performance for photoelectrochemical water splitting

“…In this regard, PEC water splitting emerges as a very promising technology. [4][5][6] PEC systems present an attractive ability to efficiently split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, utilizing sunlight as the primary energy sourcean abundant and renewable resource on earth. [7][8][9] Among the number of photocathode materials examined for PEC applications, silicon (Si) has emerged as particularly advantageous.…”