N-doped graphene quantum sheets on silicon nanowire photocathodes for hydrogen production†
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Abstract
Photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from solar energy has been attracting much attention in the field of renewable energy technology. The realization of cost-effective hydrogen production by water splitting requires electrolysis or photoelectrochemical cells decorated with highly efficient co-catalysts. A critical requirement for catalysts in photoelectrochemical cells is not only the ability to boost the kinetics of a chemical reaction but also to exhibit durability against electrochemical and photoinduced degradation. In the race to replace previous noble-metal catalysts, the design of carbon-based catalysts represents an important research direction in the search for non-precious, environmentally benign, and corrosion-resistant catalysts. Herein, we suggest graphene quantum sheets as a catalyst for the solar-driven hydrogen evolution reaction on Si nanowire photocathodes. The optimum nanostructures of the Si photocathodes exhibit an enhanced photocurrent and a lower overpotential compared to those of a planar Si surface. This significant enhancement demonstrates how graphene quantum sheet catalysts can be used to produce Si nanowire photocathodes as hydrogen evolution reaction catalysts with high activity.
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