1
|
Abstract
Metal-halide perovskites transformed optoelectronics research and development during the past decade. They have also gained a foothold in photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical processes recently, but their sensitivity to the most commonly applied solvents and electrolytes together with their susceptibility to photocorrosion hinders such applications. Understanding the elementary steps of photocorrosion of these materials can aid the endeavor of realizing stable devices. In this Perspective, we discuss both thermodynamic and kinetic aspects of photocorrosion processes occurring at the interface of perovskite photocatalysts and photoelectrodes with different electrolytes. We show how combined in situ and operando electrochemical techniques can reveal the underlying mechanisms. Finally, we also discuss emerging strategies to mitigate photocorrosion (such as surface protection, materials and electrolyte engineering, etc.).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gergely F Samu
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Rerrich Square 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary.,ELI-ALPS Research Institute, Wolfgang Sandner Street 3, Szeged H-6728, Hungary
| | - Csaba Janáky
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Excellence Centre, University of Szeged, Rerrich Square 1, Szeged H-6720, Hungary.,ELI-ALPS Research Institute, Wolfgang Sandner Street 3, Szeged H-6728, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Nandjou F, Haussener S. Kinetic Competition between Water-Splitting and Photocorrosion Reactions in Photoelectrochemical Devices. CHEMSUSCHEM 2019; 12:1984-1994. [PMID: 30644167 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.201802558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Semiconductor photocorrosion is a major challenge for the stability of photoelectrochemical water-splitting devices. Usually, photocorrosion is studied on the basis of thermodynamic aspects, by comparing the redox potentials of water to the self-decomposition potentials of the semiconductor or analyzing the equilibrium phases at given electrolyte conditions. However, that approach does not allow for a prediction of the decomposition rate of the semiconductor or the branching ratio with the redox reaction. A kinetic model has been developed to describe detailed reaction mechanisms and investigate competition between water-splitting and photocorrosion reactions. It is observed that some thermodynamically unstable semiconductors should photocorrode in a few minutes, whereas others are expected to operate over a period of years as a result of their extremely low photocorrosion current. The photostability of the semiconductor is mainly found to depend on surface chemical properties, catalyst activity, charge carrier density, and electrolyte acidity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fredy Nandjou
- Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering, EPFL, Station 9, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sophia Haussener
- Laboratory of Renewable Energy Science and Engineering, EPFL, Station 9, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Shavorskiy A, Ye X, Karslıoğlu O, Poletayev AD, Hartl M, Zegkinoglou I, Trotochaud L, Nemšák S, Schneider CM, Crumlin EJ, Axnanda S, Liu Z, Ross PN, Chueh W, Bluhm H. Direct Mapping of Band Positions in Doped and Undoped Hematite during Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting. J Phys Chem Lett 2017; 8:5579-5586. [PMID: 29083905 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.7b02548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising pathway for the direct conversion of renewable solar energy to easy to store and use chemical energy. The performance of a photoelectrochemical device is determined in large part by the heterogeneous interface between the photoanode and the electrolyte, which we here characterize directly under operating conditions using interface-specific probes. Utilizing X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy as a noncontact probe of local electrical potentials, we demonstrate direct measurements of the band alignment at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface of an operating hematite/KOH photoelectrochemical cell as a function of solar illumination, applied potential, and doping. We provide evidence for the absence of in-gap states in this system, which is contrary to previous measurements using indirect methods, and give a comprehensive description of shifts in the band positions and limiting processes during the photoelectrochemical reaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andrey Shavorskiy
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Xiaofei Ye
- Material Science and Engineering Division, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Osman Karslıoğlu
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Andrey D Poletayev
- Material Science and Engineering Division, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Matthias Hartl
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Ioannis Zegkinoglou
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Lena Trotochaud
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Slavomir Nemšák
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Claus M Schneider
- Peter-Grünberg-Institut-6, Forschungszentrum Jülich , 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Ethan J Crumlin
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Stephanus Axnanda
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Zhi Liu
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Philip N Ross
- Materials Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - William Chueh
- Material Science and Engineering Division, Stanford University , Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Hendrik Bluhm
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Advanced Light Source, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Bansal A, Turner JA. Suppression of Band Edge Migration at the p-GaInP2/H2O Interface under Illumination via Catalysis. J Phys Chem B 2000. [DOI: 10.1021/jp000387s] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Bansal
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393
| | - John A. Turner
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ba B, Fotouhi B, Gabouze N, Gorochov O, Cachet H. Dependence of the flat-band potential of n-type GaAs on the redox potential in methanol and acetonitrile. J Electroanal Chem (Lausanne) 1992. [DOI: 10.1016/0022-0728(92)80577-q] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
|