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Photoelectrochemical H 2 Evolution with a Hydrogenase Immobilized on a TiO 2 ‐Protected Silicon Electrode
Author(s) -
Lee ChongYong,
Park Hyun S.,
FontecillaCamps Juan C.,
Reisner Erwin
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201511822
Subject(s) - photocathode , bifunctional , hydrogenase , faraday efficiency , electrochemistry , photoelectrochemistry , redox , materials science , electrode , silicon , photoelectrochemical cell , semiconductor , catalysis , chemistry , chemical engineering , inorganic chemistry , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , electron , organic chemistry , electrolyte , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
The combination of enzymes with semiconductors enables the photoelectrochemical characterization of electron‐transfer processes at highly active and well‐defined catalytic sites on a light‐harvesting electrode surface. Herein, we report the integration of a hydrogenase on a TiO 2 ‐coated p‐Si photocathode for the photo‐reduction of protons to H 2 . The immobilized hydrogenase exhibits activity on Si attributable to a bifunctional TiO 2 layer, which protects the Si electrode from oxidation and acts as a biocompatible support layer for the productive adsorption of the enzyme. The p‐Si|TiO 2 |hydrogenase photocathode displays visible‐light driven production of H 2 at an energy‐storing, positive electrochemical potential and an essentially quantitative faradaic efficiency. We have thus established a widely applicable platform to wire redox enzymes in an active configuration on a p‐type semiconductor photocathode through the engineering of the enzyme–materials interface.