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Solar Water Oxidation by Multicomponent TaON Photoanodes Functionalized with Nickel Oxide
Author(s) -
Gujral Satnam Singh,
Simonov Alexandr N.,
Fang XiYa,
Higashi Masanobu,
Abe Ryu,
Spiccia Leone
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chempluschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.801
H-Index - 61
ISSN - 2192-6506
DOI - 10.1002/cplu.201600242
Subject(s) - non blocking i/o , materials science , nickel oxide , oxidizing agent , photocurrent , nickel , photocatalysis , chemical engineering , catalysis , water splitting , oxide , anode , microstructure , degradation (telecommunications) , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , metallurgy , electrode , optoelectronics , chemistry , organic chemistry , telecommunications , computer science , engineering
Efficient solar‐powered water oxidation over the TaON‐based anodes requires coupling this photoactive n ‐type semiconductor to an electrooxidation catalyst to improve the otherwise unsatisfactory activity and stability. Herein, we examine how functionalization with electrodeposited nickel oxide, NiO x , affects the performance of screen‐printed TaON photoanodes post‐necked with titania (TiO 2 –TaON). The effects of the NiO x photo‐electrodeposition parameters on the microstructure and photocatalytic performance of the resulting anodes are explored. Enhancements in the transient water oxidation photocurrent densities by sixfold vs. unmodified TiO 2 –TaON were achieved with the use of the NiO x /TiO 2 –TaON photoanodes. Long‐term stability tests reveal a slow but persistent degradation of the performance of the multicomponent photocatalysts under the severely oxidizing conditions of water photo‐oxidation coincident with continuous morphological changes in the NiO x deposits.