Si based Photoelectrodes: catalyst, structure, and performance

Abstract:

Photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) is a promising strategy for production of green fuels from solar energy. Crystalline Silicon is an outstanding semiconductor with controllable cost and good performance, whereas the high over potential and corrosion problems in electrolyte during PEC reaction have to be addressed for application as photoelectrodes. Surface coating with electrocatalysts and surface engineering can significantly enhance the performance and lifetime of the Si photoelectrodes. Through nanostructure design for transition metal compound as surface catalyst, semiconductor surface passivation, electrode surface structure engineering, and surface coating strategy, the Si photoelectrode showed significant improvement in performance and lifetime by construction of composite electrode “semiconductor/passivation layer/catalyst”. Research progress on the control over transition metal compound based catalysts, structure configuration of photoelectrodes, and performance-structure relationship of Si based photoelectrode will be introduced.