A multifunctional biphasic water splitting catalyst tailored for integration with high-performance semiconductor photoanodes.
Artificial photosystems are advanced by the development of conformal catalytic materials that promote desired chemical transformations, while also maintaining stability and minimizing parasitic light absorption for integration on surfaces of semiconductor light absorbers. Here, we demonstrate that multifunctional, nanoscale catalysts that enable high-performance photoelectrochemical energy conversion can be engineered by plasma-enhanced atomic layer deposition. The collective properties of tailored Co3O4/Co(OH)2thin films simultaneously provide high activity for water splitting, permit efficient interfacial charge transport from semiconductor substrates, and enhance durability of chemically sensitive interfaces. These films comprise compact and continuous nanocrystalline Co3O4spinel that is impervious to phase transformation and impermeable to ions, thereby providing effective protection of the underlying substrate. Moreover, a secondary phase of structurally disordered and chemically labile Co(OH)2is introduced to ensure a high concentration of catalytically active sites. Application of this coating to photovoltaic p+n-Si junctions yields best reported performance characteristics for crystalline Si photoanodes.
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Jinhui
J
Yang
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Jason K
JK
Cooper
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Francesca M
FM
Toma
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Karl A
KA
Walczak
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Marco
M
Favaro
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Jeffrey W
JW
Beeman
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Lucas H
LH
Hess
Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Cheng
0000-0001-7192-5471
C
Wang
Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Chenhui
C
Zhu
Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Sheraz
S
Gul
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Junko
0000-0001-6308-9071
J
Yano
Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Christian
C
Kisielowski
Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Adam
A
Schwartzberg
Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.|Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
Ian D
ID
Sharp