title: Visible light-driven efficient overall water splitting using p-type metal-nitride nanowire arrays.
abstract: Solar water splitting for hydrogen generation can be a potential source of renewable energy for the future. Here we show that efficient and stable stoichiometric dissociation of water into hydrogen and oxygen can be achieved under visible light by eradicating the potential barrier on nonpolar surfaces of indium gallium nitride nanowires through controlled p-type dopant incorporation. An apparent quantum efficiency of ∼12.3% is achieved for overall neutral (pH∼7.0) water splitting under visible light illumination (400-475 nm). Moreover, using a double-band p-type gallium nitride/indium gallium nitride nanowire heterostructure, we show a solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency of ∼1.8% under concentrated sunlight. The dominant effect of near-surface band structure in transforming the photocatalytic performance is elucidated. The stability and efficiency of this recyclable, wafer-level nanoscale metal-nitride photocatalyst in neutral water demonstrates their potential use for large-scale solar-fuel conversion.
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 0E9.
authors: M G
authors: MG
authors: Kibria
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 0E9.
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: Chowdhury
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 0E9.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Zhao
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 0E9.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: AlOtaibi
authors: Science des Matériaux, IREQ, Hydro-Québec, 1800 Boulevard Lionel-Boulet, Varennes, Québec, Canada J3X 1S1.
authors: M L
authors: ML
authors: Trudeau
authors: Centre for the Physics of Materials, Department of Physics, McGill University, 3600 University Street, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 2T8.
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Québec, Canada H3A 0E9.
authors: Z
authors: Z
authors: Mi