Highly Active GaN-Stabilized Ta3N5Thin-Film Photoanode for Solar Water Oxidation.
Ta3N5is a very promising photocatalyst for solar water splitting because of its wide spectrum solar energy utilization up to 600 nm and suitable energy band position straddling the water splitting redox reactions. However, its development has long been impeded by poor compatibility with electrolytes. Herein, we demonstrate a simple sputtering-nitridation process to fabricate high-performance Ta3N5film photoanodes owing to successful synthesis of the vital TaOδprecursors. An effective GaN coating strategy is developed to remarkably stabilize Ta3N5by forming a crystalline nitride-on-nitride structure with an improved nitride/electrolyte interface. A stable, high photocurrent density of 8 mA cm-2was obtained with a CoPi/GaN/Ta3N5photoanode at 1.2 VRHEunder simulated sunlight, with O2and H2generated at a Faraday efficiency of unity over 12 h. Our vapor-phase deposition method can be used to fabricate high-performance (oxy)nitrides for practical photoelectrochemical applications.
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Miao
M
Zhong
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Takashi
T
Hisatomi
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Yutaka
Y
Sasaki
Faculty of Engineering, Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano, 380-8553, Japan.
Sayaka
S
Suzuki
Faculty of Engineering, Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano, 380-8553, Japan.
Katsuya
K
Teshima
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Mamiko
M
Nakabayashi
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Naoya
N
Shibata
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Hiroshi
H
Nishiyama
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Masao
M
Katayama
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Taro
T
Yamada
School of Engineering, the University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan.|Japan Technological Research Association of Artificial Photosynthetic Chemical Process, 2-11-9 Iwamotocho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0032, Japan.
Kazunari
0000-0001-7995-4832
K
Domen
electrochemistry; photoanodes; photochemistry; solar energy conversion; water splitting