Boosting photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of Ta3N5 nanorod array photoanodes by forming a dual co-catalyst shell

Runze Chen, Chao Zhen, Yongqiang Yang, Xudong Sun, John T. S. Irvine, Lianzhou Wang, Gang Liu, Hui-Ming Cheng

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Concerning both the activity and stability of the promising solar-driven Ta3N5-based photoanodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting, the strategy for simultaneously promoting charge separation, enhancing catalytic activity and also improving the resistance to self-oxidation is highly desirable and actively pursued. In this study, a novel dual co-catalyst shell consisting of a continuous CoPi layer at the bottom and many non-continuous Co(OH)2 islands at the top of the CoPi layer is designed to meet the strict requirements for efficient Ta3N5 photoanodes. As a result of the synergistic effects of such a shell in collectively addressing the concerns, the constructed photoanode of CoPi/Co(OH)2-Ta3N5 nanorod arrays show the remarkably enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting performance compared with the photoanodes with single co-catalyst. The results demonstrated in this study are expected to shed some light on constructing efficient photoelectrodes of the light absorbers that have wide absorption range but low resistance to self-oxidation.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)683-688
Number of pages6
JournalNano Energy
Volume59
Early online date7 Mar 2019
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - May 2019

Keywords

  • TaN
  • Nanorod
  • Water splitting
  • Solar energy
  • Hydrogen

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