Examining the surface evolution of LaTiOxNy an oxynitride solar water splitting photocatalyst

Craig Lawley, Maarten Nachtegaal, Jochen Stahn, Vladimir Roddatis, Max Döbeli, Thomas J. Schmidt, Daniele Pergolesi () and Thomas Lippert ()
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Craig Lawley: Paul Scherrer Institute
Maarten Nachtegaal: Paul Scherrer Institute
Jochen Stahn: Paul Scherrer Institute
Vladimir Roddatis: University of Goettingen
Max Döbeli: ETH Zürich
Thomas J. Schmidt: Paul Scherrer Institute
Daniele Pergolesi: Paul Scherrer Institute
Thomas Lippert: Paul Scherrer Institute

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract LaTiOxNy oxynitride thin films are employed to study the surface modifications at the solid-liquid interface that occur during photoelectrocatalytic water splitting. Neutron reflectometry and grazing incidence x-ray absorption spectroscopy were utilised to distinguish between the surface and bulk signals, with a surface sensitivity of 3 nm. Here we show, contrary to what is typically assumed, that the A cations are active sites that undergo oxidation at the surface as a consequence of the water splitting process. Whereas, the B cations undergo local disordering with the valence state remaining unchanged. This surface modification reduces the overall water splitting efficiency, but is suppressed when the oxynitride thin films are decorated with a co-catalyst. With this example we present the possibilities of surface sensitive studies using techniques capable of operando measurements in water, opening up new opportunities for applications to other materials and for surface sensitive, operando studies of the water splitting process.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15519-y

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