Open AccessIntegration of Earth‐Abundant Catalysts on Si Solar Cells for Overall Solar Hydrogen Production
Author(s) -
Chen Hongjun,
Tran-Phu Thanh,
Phang Pheng,
Bo Renheng,
Yan Di,
MacDonald Daniel,
Tricoli Antonio
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced energy and sustainability research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2699-9412
DOI - 10.1002/aesr.202100012
Subject(s) - photocurrent , hydrogen production , water splitting , materials science , nanorod , hydrogen , catalysis , reversible hydrogen electrode , photoelectrochemical cell , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , electrode , chemistry , working electrode , photocatalysis , electrolyte , organic chemistry , engineering , biochemistry
Development of low‐cost and earth‐abundant metal catalysts, as alternative to noble metals, is a promising approach for direct hydrogen production from solar light with integrated photoelectrochemical devices. Herein, a mild electrochemical method is used to directly synthesize two earth‐abundant catalysts, namely, CoP and CoSe, on planar‐junction p + nn + ‐Si solar cells. It is observed that the CoP–Si photocathodes achieve the best performance with ≈12 h of stability, a photocurrent density of up to 38 mA cm −2 at 0 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), and an onset potential of 488 mV versus RHE, and one of the most efficient solar‐driven hydrogen generation from earth‐abundant systems to date. Overall solar water splitting is also demonstrated in a tandem device configuration with a top TiO 2 nanorod arrays photoanode achieving more than 5 h continuous hydrogen production. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using low‐cost earth‐abundant materials and the established Si solar cells technology for direct water splitting powered from sunlight.