Photoelectrochemical operation of a surface-bound, nickel-phosphine H2 evolution catalyst on p-Si(111): a molecular semiconductor|catalyst construct†
Abstract
We demonstrate the covalent attachment and catalytic function of a nickel-phosphine H2 evolution catalyst to a p-Si(111) photoelectrode. The covalently assembled semiconductor|molecular construct achieves a synergistic improvement (ΔVonset = +200 mV) as compared to a solution of [(PNP)2Ni]2+ in contact with a p-Si(111)–CH3 photoelectrode.