Premium
Coating Polymeric Carbon Nitride Photoanodes on Conductive Y:ZnO Nanorod Arrays for Overall Water Splitting
Author(s) -
Fang Yuanxing,
Xu Yuntao,
Li Xiaochun,
Ma Yiwen,
Wang Xinchen
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201804530
Subject(s) - nanorod , photocurrent , water splitting , materials science , electrode , electrolyte , photoelectrochemical cell , chemical engineering , reversible hydrogen electrode , nitride , carbon nitride , photoelectrochemistry , carbon fibers , coating , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , electrochemistry , photocatalysis , layer (electronics) , working electrode , chemistry , composite material , catalysis , biochemistry , engineering , composite number
Polymeric carbon nitride (PCN) photosensitizers are proposed replacements for their inorganic counterparts in solar‐to‐fuel conversion via photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, intense charge recombination, primarily because of surface defects, limits the use of PCN in PEC systems. Now, photoanodes are designed by coating PCN films onto highly conductive yttrium‐doped zinc oxide (Y:ZnO) nanorods (NRs) serving as charge collectors. The generation of charge carriers can therefore be promoted by this type II alignment. The charge collectors would be kept nearby for charge separation and transport to be used in the interfacial redox reactions. The photocurrent density of the polymer electrode is improved to 0.4 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs. the reversible hydrogen electrode in a Na 2 SO 4 electrolyte solution under AM 1.5 illumination. The result reveals a more than 50‐fold enhancement over the PCN films achieved by powder; the efficiency can be preserved at 95 % for 160 minutes.