Silicon Nanowire Photocathodes for Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production.
The performance of silicon for water oxidation and hydrogen production can be improved by exploiting the antireflective properties of nanostructured silicon substrates. In this work, silicon nanowires were fabricated by metal-assisted electroless etching of silicon. An enhanced photocurrent density of -17 mA/cm² was observed for the silicon nanowires coated with an iron sulphur carbonyl catalyst when compared to bare silicon nanowires (-5 mA/cm²). A substantial amount of 315 µmol/h hydrogen gas was produced at low bias potentials for the silicon nanowires coated with an iron sulphur carbonyl catalyst.
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, South Australia 5095, Australia. soundarrajan.chandrasekaran@mymail.unisa.edu.au.
Soundarrajan
S
Chandrasekaran
MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. thomas.nann@vuw.ac.nz.
Thomas
T
Nann
Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia, South Australia 5095, Australia. nico.voelcker@unisa.edu.au.
Nicolas H
NH
Voelcker
anti-reflective surface; bioinspired catalyst; hydrogen production; nanostructure; silicon nanowire