title: Direct Hydrogen Evolution from Saline Water Reduction at Neutral pH using Organic Photocathodes.
abstract: Here, we have developed an organic photocathode for water reduction to H2, delivering more than 1 mA cm-2at 0 V versus RHE and above 3 mA cm-2at -0.5 V versus RHE with moderate stability under neutral pH conditions. The initial competitive reduction of water to H2and ZnO to metallic Zn is responsible for the dynamic behaviour of both photocurrent and Faradaic efficiency of the device, which reaches 100 % Faradaic efficiency after 90 min operation. In any case, outstanding stable H2flow of approximately 2 μmol h-1is measured over 1 h at 0 V versus RHE and at neutral pH, after equilibrium between the Zn2+/Zn0concentration in the AZO film is reached. This achievement opens new avenues for the development of allsolution-processed organic photoelectrochemical cells for the solar generation of H2from sea water.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haro
authors.affiliation: Universidad Nacional Rio Cuarto, Departamento de Química, X5804BYA, Río Cuarto, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Solis
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
authors.forename: Vicente M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Blas-Ferrando
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Margeat
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Sadok Ben
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Dhkil
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Videlot-Ackermann
authors.affiliation: Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, CINaM UMR 7325, 13288, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ackermann
authors.affiliation: Center for Nano Science and Technology@PoliMi, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Via Pascoli 70/3, 20133, Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Fonzo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guerrero
authors.affiliation: Institute of Advanced Materials (INAM), Universitat Jaume I, 12071, Castelló, Spain.
authors.forename: Sixto
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4522-3174
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gimenez
mesh_terms: D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D055668:Photochemical Processes; D000068357:Saline Waters / Q000737:chemistry*; D013472:Sunlight; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen; D015032:Zinc
keywords: hydrogen; organic photoelectrochemical cells; selective contacts; solar fuels; water splitting