Author(s): Zhao, S (Zhao, Shuai); Yuan, GD (Yuan, Guodong); Wang, Q (Wang, Qi); Liu, WQ (Liu, Wenqiang); Wang, R (Wang, Ru); Yang, SH (Yang, Shenghua)

Source: NANOSCALE Volume: 12 Issue: 1 Pages: 316-325 DOI: 10.1039/c9nr06635g Published: JAN 7 2020

Abstract: Micro-/nanostructured silicon (Si) photoelectrodes are promising for efficient solar-driven water splitting. In this work, an elaborate study on textured Si photocathodes is reported. Compared to conventional textured Si photocathodes, the well-designed Si photocathode with randomly-distributed inverted pyramid arrays (SiIPs) generates a larger photovoltage of 440 mV for its higher effective minority carrier density, and produces a higher photocurrent density at a high reverse bias voltage due to its quasi-hydrophilicity. With the help of cobalt disulfide (CoS2) nanocrystals, sluggish charge kinetics of SiIP photocathodes can be further improved. The optimal SiIP/CoS2 photocathode yields an onset potential of 0.22 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a saturated photocurrent density of 10.4 mA cm(-2) at -0.45 V (vs. RHE). Besides, this cathode produces a stable photocurrent density of similar to 6.60 mA cm(-2) at 0 V (vs. RHE) for 12 000 s in acidic media. Notably, our work presents a facile and inexpensive method to fabricate efficient Si photoelectrodes, which may promote the evolution of textured Si-based electrodes for potential photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic applications.

Accession Number: WOS:000504106900027

PubMed ID: 31825048

Author Identifiers:

Author        Web of Science ResearcherID        ORCID Number

Zhao, Shuai                  0000-0001-7171-2943

ISSN: 2040-3364

eISSN: 2040-3372

Full Text: https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2020/NR/C9NR06635G#!divAbstract