Issue 25, 2014

A quantum dot sensitized catalytic porous silicon photocathode

Abstract

Solar fuels have attracted considerable attention as an alternative energy vector in the context of the dwindling supplies of the planet's non-renewable resources. The first step in solar fuel generation is often a photo-catalytic water splitting. Although a very large amount of work has been dedicated to optimise the photo-oxidation process (mostly based on titania), the development of highly efficient photocathodes is limited. In this paper, we report the fabrication and characterisation of a nano-structured photocathode using indium phosphide QDs and a bio-inspired Fe2S2(CO)6 catalyst, p-type porous silicon photocathode. Our hybrid electrode system produced a photocurrent density of −1.2 mA cm−2 with hydrogen evolution at low bias potentials.

Graphical abstract: A quantum dot sensitized catalytic porous silicon photocathode

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
07 Apr 2014
Accepted
07 May 2014
First published
07 May 2014

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014,2, 9478-9481

Author version available

A quantum dot sensitized catalytic porous silicon photocathode

S. Chandrasekaran, T. J. Macdonald, Y. J. Mange, N. H. Voelcker and T. Nann, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2014, 2, 9478 DOI: 10.1039/C4TA01677G

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