Nanoporous black silicon photocathode for H2 production by photoelectrochemical water splitting

Oh, Jihun; Deutsch, Todd G.; Yuan, Hao-Chih; Branz, Howard M.

doi:10.1039/c1ee01124c

Cited by 236 publications

(223 citation statements)

References 29 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

203

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Multijunction cell designs inherited from the photovoltaic industry and used in PEC light harvesting systems can supply sufficient voltage and are chemically stable. Recent studies have been focused on more efficient and durable PEC systems that would be stable in water/electrolyte environment [26,27]. In view of their global scale production, there is also an increasing focus on developing PEC devices based on abundant elements such as iron oxide in the crystalline form of hematite.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar-Powered Plasmon-Enhanced Heterogeneous Catalysis

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Photocatalysis uses semiconductors to convert sunlight into chemical energy. Recent reports have shown that plasmonic nanostructures can be used to extend semiconductor light absorption or to drive direct photocatalysis with visible light at their surface. In this review, we discuss the fundamental decay pathway of localized surface plasmons in the context of driving solar-powered chemical reactions. We also review different nanophotonic approaches demonstrated for increasing solar-tohydrogen conversion in photoelectrochemical water splitting, including experimental observations of enhanced reaction selectivity for reactions occurring at the metalsemiconductor interface. The enhanced reaction selectivity is highly dependent on the morphology, electronic properties, and spatial arrangement of composite nanostructures and their elements. In addition, we report on the particular features of photocatalytic reactions evolving at plasmonic metal surfaces and discuss the possibility of manipulating the reaction selectivity through the activation of targeted molecular bonds. Finally, using solar-tohydrogen conversion techniques as an example, we quantify the efficacy metrics achievable in plasmon-driven photoelectrochemical systems and highlight some of the new directions that could lead to the practical implementation of solar-powered plasmon-based catalytic devices.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar-Powered Plasmon-Enhanced Heterogeneous Catalysis

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Nanostructured silicon (for example, nanowires, nanotubes and porous structures) fabricated from p-type silicon wafers and the modification of its surface have been suggested for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water reduction. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] Nevertheless, high hydrogen production efficiency, the complicated fabrication steps using silicon wafers and operating conditions (for example, use of an external bias and comprising circuit) remain challenges for practical application. Direct solar water reduction from a dispersed photocatalyst is a well-known, cost-effective and simple process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

All-in-one synthesis of mesoporous silicon nanosheets from natural clay and their applicability to hydrogen evolution

et al. 2016

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Silicon nanosheets have attracted much attention owing to their novel electronic and optical properties and compatibility with existing silicon technology. However, a cost-effective and scalable technique for synthesizing these nanosheets remains elusive. Here, we report a novel strategy for producing silicon nanosheets on a large scale through the simultaneous molten-salt-induced exfoliation and chemical reduction of natural clay. The silicon nanosheets thus synthesized have a high surface area, are ultrathin (~5 nm) and contain mesoporous structures derived from the oxygen vacancies in the clay. These advantages make the nanosheets a highly suitable photocatalyst with an exceptionally high activity for the generation of hydrogen from a water-methanol mixture. Further, when the silicon nanosheets are combined with platinum as a cocatalyst, they exhibit high activity in KOH (15.83 mmol H 2 per s per mol Si) and excellent photocatalytic activity with respect to the evolution of hydrogen from a water-methanol mixture (723 μmol H 2 per h per g Si).

show abstract

“…Due to the large difference in refractive indexes of Si and water, the planar Si/water interface reflects as much as 25% of the incident visible light. 19 In solid-state photonic devices, various types of anti-reflection layers are utilized to reduce photon reflection at the interface. However, in the semiconductor/liquid interface, it is generally be very difficult or impossible to introduce such an anti-reflection layer because such layer would easily block interfacial electron transfer.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fabrication of Metal-Semiconductor Interface in Porous Silicon and Its Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production

Oh¹,

Kye²,

Hwang³

2011

Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Porous silicon with a complex network of nanopores is utilized for photoelectrochemical energy conversion. A novel electroless Pt deposition onto porous silicon is investigated in the context of photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation. The electroless Pt deposition is shown to improve the characteristics of the PS photoelectrode toward photoelectrochemical H + reduction, though excessive Pt deposition leads to decrease of photocurrent. Furthermore, it is found that a thin layer (< 10 µm) of porous silicon can serve as anti-reflection layer for the underlying Si substrate, improving photocurrent by reducing photon reflection at the Si/liquid interface. However, as the thickness of the porous silicon increases, the surface recombination on the dramatically increased interface area of the porous silicon begins to dominate, diminishing the photocurrent.

show abstract

Nanoporous black silicon photocathode for H2 production by photoelectrochemical water splitting

Cited by 236 publications

References 29 publications

Solar-Powered Plasmon-Enhanced Heterogeneous Catalysis

Solar-Powered Plasmon-Enhanced Heterogeneous Catalysis

All-in-one synthesis of mesoporous silicon nanosheets from natural clay and their applicability to hydrogen evolution

Fabrication of Metal-Semiconductor Interface in Porous Silicon and Its Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About