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Efficient Water Oxidation Using Ta 3 N 5 Thin Film Photoelectrodes Prepared on Insulating Transparent Substrates
Author(s) -
Higashi Tomohiro,
Nishiyama Hiroshi,
Otsuka Yuki,
Kawase Yudai,
Sasaki Yutaka,
Nakabayashi Mamiko,
Katayama Masao,
Minegishi Tsutomu,
Shibata Naoya,
Takanabe Kazuhiro,
Yamada Taro,
Domen Kazunari
Publication year - 2020
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.202000397
Subject(s) - photocurrent , materials science , water splitting , optoelectronics , thin film , energy conversion efficiency , layer (electronics) , electrode , nanotechnology , tandem , photoelectrochemical cell , chemical engineering , solar energy , photocatalysis , electrolyte , catalysis , chemistry , composite material , ecology , biochemistry , engineering , biology
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting using visible‐light‐responsive photoelectrodes is the preferred approach to converting solar energy into hydrogen as a renewable energy source. A transparent Ta 3 N 5 photoanode embedded within a PEC cell having a tandem configuration is a promising configuration that may provide a high solar‐to‐hydrogen energy conversion efficiency. Ta 3 N 5 thin films are typically prepared by heating precursor films in an NH 3 flow at high temperatures, which tends to degrade the transparent conductive layer, such that producing efficient Ta 3 N 5 transparent photoanodes is challenging. Herein, the direct preparation of transparent Ta 3 N 5 photoanodes on insulating quartz substrates was demonstrated without the insertion of a transparent conductive layer. The resulting devices generated a photocurrent of 6.0 mA cm −2 at 1.23 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode under simulated sunlight. This study provides a new strategy for the preparation of transparent photoelectrodes that mitigates current challenges.