High performance III-V photoelectrodes for solar water splitting via synergistically tailored structure and stoichiometry

Haneol Lim, James L. Young, John F. Geisz, Daniel J. Friedman, Todd G. Deutsch and Jongseung Yoon ()
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Haneol Lim: University of Southern California
James L. Young: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
John F. Geisz: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Daniel J. Friedman: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Todd G. Deutsch: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Jongseung Yoon: University of Southern California

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Catalytic interface of semiconductor photoelectrodes is critical for high-performance photoelectrochemical solar water splitting because of its multiple roles in light absorption, electrocatalysis, and corrosion protection. Nevertheless, simultaneously optimizing each of these processes represents a materials conundrum owing to conflicting requirements of materials attributes at the electrode surface. Here we show an approach that can circumvent these challenges by collaboratively exploiting corrosion-resistant surface stoichiometry and structurally-tailored reactive interface. Nanoporous, density-graded surface of ‘black’ gallium indium phosphide (GaInP2), when combined with ammonium-sulfide-based surface passivation, effectively reduces reflection and surface recombination of photogenerated carriers for high efficiency photocatalysis in the hydrogen evolution half-reaction, but also augments electrochemical durability with lifetime over 124 h via strongly suppressed kinetics of corrosion. Such synergistic control of stoichiometry and structure at the reactive interface provides a practical pathway to concurrently enhance efficiency and durability of semiconductor photoelectrodes without solely relying on the development of new protective materials.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11351-1

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