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Semiconducting Synthetic Melanin‐Based Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Photoanodes for Solar Water Oxidation
Author(s) -
Lee Cheolmin,
Jeon Dasom,
Bae Sanghyun,
Kim Hyunwoo,
Han Yujin,
Lee Yang Woo,
Ryu Jungki
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemsuschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.412
H-Index - 157
eISSN - 1864-564X
pISSN - 1864-5631
DOI - 10.1002/cssc.201801135
Subject(s) - polyoxometalate , photocurrent , melanin , heterojunction , materials science , thin film , water splitting , chemical engineering , deposition (geology) , semiconductor , fabrication , hybrid material , photoelectrochemical cell , catalysis , chemistry , photocatalysis , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , organic chemistry , electrode , medicine , paleontology , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology , sediment , engineering , biology , electrolyte
We report the development of semiconducting melanin‐based organic/inorganic hybrid photoanodes for solar water oxidation. Synthetic melanin thin‐film incorporating polyoxometalate (POM) water oxidation catalysts (WOCs) are readily deposited on the surface of various n‐type inorganic semiconductors (e.g., Fe 2 O 3 , BiVO 4 , and TiO 2 ) by electropolymerization. The deposition of melanin and POM hybrid (MP) thin‐film results in the remarkably improved performance of an underlying semiconductor photoanode for solar water oxidation with a significantly increased photocurrent density and decreased onset potential for water oxidation through the formation of a melanin‐based p–n heterojunction structure. We believe that this study can provide insights into the design and fabrication of various melanin‐based optoelectronic devices by utilizing its unique physicochemical properties.