Efficient water reduction with gallium phosphide nanowires

Anthony Standing, Simone Assali, Lu Gao, Marcel A. Verheijen, Dick van Dam, Yingchao Cui, Peter H. L. Notten, Jos E. M. Haverkort and Erik P. A. M. Bakkers ()
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Anthony Standing: Eindhoven University of Technology
Simone Assali: Eindhoven University of Technology
Lu Gao: Eindhoven University of Technology
Marcel A. Verheijen: Eindhoven University of Technology
Dick van Dam: Eindhoven University of Technology
Yingchao Cui: Eindhoven University of Technology
Peter H. L. Notten: Eindhoven University of Technology
Jos E. M. Haverkort: Eindhoven University of Technology
Erik P. A. M. Bakkers: Eindhoven University of Technology

Nature Communications, 2015, vol. 6, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from solar energy and water offers a clean and sustainable fuel option for the future. Planar III/V material systems have shown the highest efficiencies, but are expensive. By moving to the nanowire regime the demand on material quantity is reduced, and new materials can be uncovered, such as wurtzite gallium phosphide, featuring a direct bandgap. This is one of the few materials combining large solar light absorption and (close to) ideal band-edge positions for full water splitting. Here we report the photoelectrochemical reduction of water, on a p-type wurtzite gallium phosphide nanowire photocathode. By modifying geometry to reduce electrical resistance and enhance optical absorption, and modifying the surface with a multistep platinum deposition, high current densities and open circuit potentials were achieved. Our results demonstrate the capabilities of this material, even when used in such low quantities, as in nanowires.

Date: 2015
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8824

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