Issue 8, 2023

An integrated n-Si/BiVO4 photoelectrode with an interfacial bi-layer for unassisted solar water splitting

Abstract

Integrated n-Si/BiVO4 is one of the most promising candidates for unbiased photoelectrochemical water splitting. However, a direct connection between n-Si and BiVO4 will not attain overall water splitting due to the small band offset as well as the interfacial defects at the n-Si/BiVO4 interface that severely impede carrier separation and transport, limiting the photovoltage generation. This paper describes the design and fabrication of an integrated n-Si/BiVO4 device with enhanced photovoltage extracted from the interfacial bi-layer for unassisted water splitting. An Al2O3/indium tin oxide (ITO) interfacial bi-layer was inserted at the n-Si/BiVO4 interface, which promotes the interfacial carrier transport by enlarging the band offset while healing interfacial defects. When coupled to a separate cathode for hydrogen evolution, spontaneous water splitting could be realized with this n-Si/Al2O3/ITO/BiVO4 tandem anode, with an average solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency of 0.62% for over 1000 hours.

Graphical abstract: An integrated n-Si/BiVO4 photoelectrode with an interfacial bi-layer for unassisted solar water splitting

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Edge Article
Submitted
04 Dec 2022
Accepted
29 Jan 2023
First published
30 Jan 2023
This article is Open Access

All publication charges for this article have been paid for by the Royal Society of Chemistry
Creative Commons BY license

Chem. Sci., 2023,14, 2192-2199

An integrated n-Si/BiVO4 photoelectrode with an interfacial bi-layer for unassisted solar water splitting

S. Wang, S. Feng, B. Liu, Z. Gong, T. Wang and J. Gong, Chem. Sci., 2023, 14, 2192 DOI: 10.1039/D2SC06651C

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements