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Nanoporous Au Thin Films on Si Photoelectrodes for Selective and Efficient Photoelectrochemical CO 2 Reduction
Author(s) -
Song Jun Tae,
Ryoo Hyewon,
Cho Minhyung,
Kim Jaehoon,
Kim JinGyu,
Chung SungYoon,
Oh Jihun
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
advanced energy materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.08
H-Index - 220
eISSN - 1614-6840
pISSN - 1614-6832
DOI - 10.1002/aenm.201601103
Subject(s) - nanoporous , overpotential , faraday efficiency , materials science , thin film , electrochemistry , catalysis , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , anodizing , electrode , composite material , chemistry , aluminium , engineering , biochemistry
An Si photoelectrode with a nanoporous Au thin film for highly selective and efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is presented. The nanoporous Au thin film is formed by electrochemical reduction of an anodized Au thin film. The electrochemical treatments of the Au thin film critically improve CO 2 reduction catalytic activity of Au catalysts and exhibit CO Faradaic efficiency of 96% at 480 mV of overpotential. To apply the electrochemical pretreatment of Au films for PEC CO 2 RR, a new Si photoelectrode design with mesh‐type co‐catalysts independently wired at the front and the back of the photoelectrode is demonstrated. Due to the superior CO 2 RR activity of the nanoporous Au mesh and high photovoltage from Si, the Si photoelectrode with the nanoporous Au thin film mesh shows conversion of CO 2 to CO with 91% Faradaic efficiency at positive potential than the CO 2 /CO equilibrium potential.