Volume 208, 2018

Advancing semiconductor–electrocatalyst systems: application of surface transformation films and nanosphere lithography

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells offer the possibility of carbon-neutral solar fuel production through artificial photosynthesis. The pursued design involves technologically advanced III–V semiconductor absorbers coupled via an interfacial film to an electrocatalyst layer. These systems have been prepared by in situ surface transformations in electrochemical environments. High activity nanostructured electrocatalysts are required for an efficiently operating cell, optimized in their optical and electrical properties. We demonstrate that shadow nanosphere lithography (SNL) is an auspicious tool to systematically create three-dimensional electrocatalyst nanostructures on the semiconductor photoelectrode through controlling their morphology and optical properties. First results are demonstrated by means of the photoelectrochemical production of hydrogen on p-type InP photocathodes where hitherto applied photoelectrodeposition and SNL-deposited Rh electrocatalysts are compared based on their JV and spectroscopic behavior. We show that smaller polystyrene particle masks achieve higher defect nanostructures of rhodium on the photoelectrode which leads to a higher catalytic activity and larger short circuit currents. Structural analyses including HRSEM and the analysis of the photoelectrode surface composition by using photoelectron spectroscopy support and complement the photoelectrochemical observations. The optical performance is further compared to theoretical models of the nanostructured photoelectrodes on light scattering and propagation.

Graphical abstract: Advancing semiconductor–electrocatalyst systems: application of surface transformation films and nanosphere lithography

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 jan 2018
Accepted
05 mar 2018
First published
05 mar 2018

Faraday Discuss., 2018,208, 523-535

Author version available

Advancing semiconductor–electrocatalyst systems: application of surface transformation films and nanosphere lithography

K. Brinkert, M. H. Richter, Ö. Akay, M. Giersig, K. T. Fountaine and H. Lewerenz, Faraday Discuss., 2018, 208, 523 DOI: 10.1039/C8FD00003D

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