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Zhao Y, Descamps J, Léger Y, Sojic N, Loget G. Light Conversion by Electrochemiluminescence at Semiconductor Surfaces. Acc Chem Res 2024; 57:2144-2153. [PMID: 39014959 DOI: 10.1021/acs.accounts.4c00273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
ConspectusElectrochemiluminescence (ECL) is the electrochemical generation of light. It involves an interfacial charge transfer that produces the excited state of a luminophore at the electrode surface. ECL is a powerful readout method that is widely employed for immunoassays and clinical diagnostics and is progressively evolving into a microscopy technique. On the other hand, photoelectrochemistry at illuminated semiconductors is a field of research that deals with the transfer of photogenerated charge carriers at the solid-liquid interface. This concept offers several advantages such as a considerable lowering of the onset potential required for triggering an electrochemical reaction as well as light addressable chemistry, via the spatial confinement of redox reactions at locally illuminated semiconductor electrodes. The combination of ECL with photoelectrochemistry at illuminated semiconductors is termed photoinduced ECL (PECL). It deals with the triggering of an ECL reaction through the transfer of photogenerated minority charge carriers at the illuminated solid/liquid interface. PECL results in the conversion of incident photons (λexc), that are absorbed by the semiconductor photoelectrode to emitted photons (λPECL), produced by the ECL reaction. Although demonstrated in the 1970s by Bard et al. in ultradry organic solvents, PECL remained unexplored until the last five years. Nowadays, as a result of the considerable progress achieved in semiconductor photoelectrodes and ECL systems, a large variety of PECL systems can be designed by combining photoelectrode materials with ECL luminophores, making it a versatile tool for light conversion in aqueous media.In this Account, we introduce the fundamentals of ECL and photoelectrochemistry at illuminated semiconductors and review the recent developments in PECL. We discuss the two main PECL light conversion schemes: downconversion (where λexc < λPECL) and upconversion (where λexc > λPECL). Besides, PECL can be used to simplify considerably the common electrochemical setups employed for ECL. Indeed, by engineering the photoelectrode material and carefully considering the reactivity involved for ECL and its counter-reaction, PECL enables the ultimate concept of all-optical ECL (AO-ECL), i.e., ECL generation at an illuminated monolithic device immersed into the electrolyte solution. As discussed in this Account, AO-ECL is an important breakthrough that allows the simplest ECL experimental configuration ever reported, eliminating constraints such as an electrical power supply, wires, electrodes, connections, and specific electrochemical knowledge. As shown at the end of this Account, due to the robustness of recently manufactured PECL systems, several applications can already be envisioned for microscopy, elucidation of solar conversion mechanisms, near-infrared imaging, and bioanalysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Zhao
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes) - UMR 6226, Rennes 35000, France
| | - J Descamps
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Y Léger
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON - UMR 6082, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - N Sojic
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France
| | - G Loget
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France
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2
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King AJ, Weber AZ, Bell AT. Understanding Photovoltage Enhancement in Metal-Insulator Semiconductor Photoelectrodes with Metal Nanoparticles. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:36380-36391. [PMID: 38968444 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c05928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
A metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) structure holds great potential to promote photoelectrochemical (PEC) reactions, such as water splitting and CO2 reduction, for the storage of solar energy in chemical bonds. The semiconductor absorbs photons, creating electron-hole pairs; the insulator facilitates charge separation; and the metal collects the desired charge and facilitates its use in the electrochemical reaction. Despite these attractive features, MIS photoelectrodes are significantly limited by their photovoltage, a combination of the voltage generated from photon absorption minus the potential drop across the insulator. Herein, we use multiscale continuum modeling of the carrier, electrolyte, and interfacial transport to identify strategies for mitigating the deleterious potential drop across the insulator and enabling high MIS photovoltages. To this end, we model Ni/SiO2/n-Si photoanodes that employ a planar Ni film or Ni nanoparticles (np-MIS) and validate both models using experimental polarization curves and photovoltage measurements from the literature. The simulations reveal that the insulator potential drop is lower and hence achieves higher photovoltages for np-MIS structures than MIS structures because the electrolyte screens charge trapped at defect states between the semiconductor and the insulator. This electrolyte charge screening phenomenon can be further leveraged by using low loadings or small nanoparticles, which not only minimize the interfacial potential drop but also improve the photocurrent by enabling more light absorption. These insights contribute to the optimization of the np-MIS structures for sustainable energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex J King
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Adam Z Weber
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Alexis T Bell
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Liquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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3
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Wei S, Xia X, Bi S, Hu S, Wu X, Hsu HY, Zou X, Huang K, Zhang DW, Sun Q, Bard AJ, Yu ET, Ji L. Metal-insulator-semiconductor photoelectrodes for enhanced photoelectrochemical water splitting. Chem Soc Rev 2024; 53:6860-6916. [PMID: 38833171 DOI: 10.1039/d3cs00820g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting provides a scalable and integrated platform to harness renewable solar energy for green hydrogen production. The practical implementation of PEC systems hinges on addressing three critical challenges: enhancing energy conversion efficiency, ensuring long-term stability, and achieving economic viability. Metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) heterojunction photoelectrodes have gained significant attention over the last decade for their ability to efficiently segregate photogenerated carriers and mitigate corrosion-induced semiconductor degradation. This review discusses the structural composition and interfacial intricacies of MIS photoelectrodes tailored for PEC water splitting. The application of MIS heterostructures across various semiconductor light-absorbing layers, including traditional photovoltaic-grade semiconductors, metal oxides, and emerging materials, is presented first. Subsequently, this review elucidates the reaction mechanisms and respective merits of vacuum and non-vacuum deposition techniques in the fabrication of the insulator layers. In the context of the metal layers, this review extends beyond the conventional scope, not only by introducing metal-based cocatalysts, but also by exploring the latest advancements in molecular and single-atom catalysts integrated within MIS photoelectrodes. Furthermore, a systematic summary of carrier transfer mechanisms and interface design principles of MIS photoelectrodes is presented, which are pivotal for optimizing energy band alignment and enhancing solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency within the PEC system. Finally, this review explores innovative derivative configurations of MIS photoelectrodes, including back-illuminated MIS photoelectrodes, inverted MIS photoelectrodes, tandem MIS photoelectrodes, and monolithically integrated wireless MIS photoelectrodes. These novel architectures address the limitations of traditional MIS structures by effectively coupling different functional modules, minimizing optical and ohmic losses, and mitigating recombination losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shice Wei
- School of Microelectronics & Jiashan Fudan Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Xuewen Xia
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Shuai Bi
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Shen Hu
- School of Microelectronics & Jiashan Fudan Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Xuefeng Wu
- School of Microelectronics & Jiashan Fudan Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Hsien-Yi Hsu
- Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, 83 Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Xingli Zou
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
| | - Kai Huang
- Department of Physics, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - David W Zhang
- School of Microelectronics & Jiashan Fudan Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Qinqqing Sun
- School of Microelectronics & Jiashan Fudan Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
| | - Allen J Bard
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78713, USA
| | - Edward T Yu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Texas 78758, USA.
| | - Li Ji
- School of Microelectronics & Jiashan Fudan Institute, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
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Zhao Y, Sépulveda B, Descamps J, Faye F, Duque M, Esteve J, Santinacci L, Sojic N, Loget G, Léger Y. Near-IR Photoinduced Electrochemiluminescence Imaging with Structured Silicon Photoanodes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:11722-11729. [PMID: 38393292 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c19029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Infrared (IR) imaging devices that convert IR irradiation (invisible to the human eye) to a visible signal are based on solid-state components. Here, we introduce an alternative concept based on light-addressable electrochemistry (i.e., electrochemistry spatially confined under the action of a light stimulus) that involves the use of a liquid electrolyte. In this method, the projection of a near-IR image (λexc = 850 or 840 nm) onto a photoactive Si-based photoanode, immersed into a liquid phase, triggers locally the photoinduced electrochemiluminescence (PECL) of the efficient [Ru(bpy)3]2+-TPrA system. This leads to the local conversion of near-IR light to visible (λPECL = 632 nm) light. We demonstrate that compared to planar Si photoanodes, the use of a micropillar Si array leads to a large enhancement of local light generation and considerably improves the resolution of the PECL image by preventing photogenerated minority carriers from diffusing laterally. These results are important for the design of original light conversion devices and can lead to important applications in photothermal imaging and analytical chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Zhao
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR 6226, Rennes 35000, France
| | - Borja Sépulveda
- Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC), Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Julie Descamps
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Fatoumata Faye
- INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON-UMR6082, Univ Rennes, Rennes F-35000, France
| | - Marcos Duque
- Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC), Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | - Jaume Esteve
- Instituto de Microelectrónica de Barcelona (IMB-CNM, CSIC), Barcelona 08193, Spain
| | | | - Neso Sojic
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Gabriel Loget
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR 6226, Rennes 35000, France
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France
| | - Yoan Léger
- INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON-UMR6082, Univ Rennes, Rennes F-35000, France
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5
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Descamps J, Zhao Y, Le-Pouliquen J, Goudeau B, Garrigue P, Tavernier K, Léger Y, Loget G, Sojic N. Local reactivity of metal-insulator-semiconductor photoanodes imaged by photoinduced electrochemiluminescence microscopy. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:12262-12265. [PMID: 37753612 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc03702a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Localized photoinduced electrochemiluminescence (PECL) is studied on photoanodes composed of Ir microbands deposited on n-Si/SiOx. We demonstrate that PECL microscopy precisely imaged the hole-driven heterogeneous photoelectrochemical reactivity. The method is promising for elucidating the local activity of photoelectrodes that are employed in solar energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Descamps
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France.
| | - Yiran Zhao
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR6226, Rennes F-35000, France.
| | - Julie Le-Pouliquen
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON-UMR 6082, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Bertrand Goudeau
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France.
| | - Patrick Garrigue
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France.
| | - Karine Tavernier
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON-UMR 6082, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Yoan Léger
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON-UMR 6082, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Gabriel Loget
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR6226, Rennes F-35000, France.
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research, Fundamental Electrochemistry (IEK-9), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, 52425, Germany
| | - Neso Sojic
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, Pessac 33607, France.
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Yeh YH, Chang CL, Tseng ZC, Hsiao VKS, Huang CY. Enhancing the Photoelectrochemical Performance of a Nanoporous Silicon Photocathode through Electroless Nickel Deposition. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:2552. [PMID: 37764581 PMCID: PMC10536183 DOI: 10.3390/nano13182552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023]
Abstract
Renewable energy sources, particularly solar energy, are key to our efforts to decarbonize. This study investigates the photoelectrochemical (PEC) behavior of nanoporous silicon (NPSi) and its Ni-coated hybrid system. The methods involve the application of a Ni coating to NPSi, a process aimed at augmenting catalytic activity, light absorption, and carrier transport. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the morphological changes on NPSi surfaces due to the Ni coating. Results demonstrate that the Ni coating creates unique structures on NPSi surfaces, with peak PEC performance observed at 15 min of coating time and 60 °C. These conditions were found to promote electron-hole pair separation and uniform Ni coverage. A continuous 50-min white light illumination experiment confirmed stable PEC fluctuations, showing the interplay of NPSi's characteristics and Ni's catalytic effect. This study provides practical guidance for the design of efficient water-splitting catalysts, contributing to the broader field of renewable energy conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Hung Yeh
- Department of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli 54561, Taiwan
| | - Chiao-Li Chang
- Department of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli 54561, Taiwan
| | - Zi-Chun Tseng
- Department of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli 54561, Taiwan
| | - Vincent K S Hsiao
- Department of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli 54561, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Ying Huang
- Department of Applied Materials and Optoelectronic Engineering, National Chi Nan University, Puli 54561, Taiwan
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7
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Santinacci L. Atomic layer deposition: an efficient tool for corrosion protection. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2022.101674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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8
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Zhao Y, Descamps J, Ababou-Girard S, Bergamini JF, Santinacci L, Léger Y, Sojic N, Loget G. Metal-Insulator-Semiconductor Anodes for Ultrastable and Site-Selective Upconversion Photoinduced Electrochemiluminescence. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202201865. [PMID: 35233901 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202201865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Photoinduced electrochemiluminescence (PECL) allows the electrochemically assisted conversion of low-energy photons into high-energy photons at an electrode surface. This concept is expected to have important implications, however, it is dramatically limited by the stability of the surface, impeding future developments. Here, a series of metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) junctions, using photoactive n-type Si (n-Si) as a light absorber covered by a few-nanometer-thick protective SiOx /metal (SiOx /M, with M=Ru, Pt, and Ir) overlayers are investigated for upconversion PECL of the model co-reactant system involving the simultaneous oxidation of tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) and tri-n-propylamine. We show that n-Si/SiOx /Pt and n-Si/SiOx /Ir exhibit high photovoltages and record stabilities in operation (35 h for n-Si/SiOx /Ir) for the generation of intense PECL with an anti-Stokes shift of 218 nm. We also demonstrate that these surfaces can be employed for spatially localized PECL. These unprecedented performances are extremely promising for future applications of PECL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Zhao
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes) UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Julie Descamps
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, 33607, Pessac, France
| | - Soraya Ababou-Girard
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes) UMR 6251, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jean-François Bergamini
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes) UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
| | | | - Yoan Léger
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON-UMR 6082, 35000, Rennes, France
| | - Neso Sojic
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255, 33607, Pessac, France
| | - Gabriel Loget
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes) UMR 6226, 35000, Rennes, France
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Zhao Y, Descamps J, Ababou‐Girard S, Bergamini J, Santinacci L, Léger Y, Sojic N, Loget G. Metal‐Insulator‐Semiconductor Anodes for Ultrastable and Site‐Selective Upconversion Photoinduced Electrochemiluminescence. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202201865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Zhao
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes) UMR 6226 35000 Rennes France
| | - Julie Descamps
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255 33607 Pessac France
| | - Soraya Ababou‐Girard
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, IPR (Institut de Physique de Rennes) UMR 6251 35000 Rennes France
| | - Jean‐François Bergamini
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes) UMR 6226 35000 Rennes France
| | | | - Yoan Léger
- Univ Rennes, INSA Rennes, CNRS, Institut FOTON-UMR 6082 35000 Rennes France
| | - Neso Sojic
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255 33607 Pessac France
| | - Gabriel Loget
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes) UMR 6226 35000 Rennes France
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10
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Zhao Y, Bouffier L, Xu G, Loget G, Sojic N. Electrochemiluminescence with semiconductor (nano)materials. Chem Sci 2022; 13:2528-2550. [PMID: 35356679 PMCID: PMC8890139 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06987j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is the light production triggered by reactions at the electrode surface. Its intrinsic features based on a dual electrochemical/photophysical nature have made it an attractive and powerful method across diverse fields in applied and fundamental research. Herein, we review the combination of ECL with semiconductor (SC) materials presenting various typical dimensions and structures, which has opened new uses of ECL and offered exciting opportunities for (bio)sensing and imaging. In particular, we highlight this particularly rich domain at the interface between photoelectrochemistry, SC material chemistry and analytical chemistry. After an introduction to the ECL and SC fundamentals, we gather the recent advances with representative examples of new strategies to generate ECL in original configurations. Indeed, bulk SC can be used as electrode materials with unusual ECL properties or light-addressable systems. At the nanoscale, the SC nanocrystals or quantum dots (QDs) constitute excellent bright ECL nano-emitters with tuneable emission wavelengths and remarkable stability. Finally, the challenges and future prospects are discussed for the design of new detection strategies in (bio)analytical chemistry, light-addressable systems, imaging or infrared devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiran Zhao
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR6226 Rennes F-35000 France
| | - Laurent Bouffier
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255 Pessac 33607 France
| | - Guobao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun P. R. China
- University of Science and Technology of China Hefei Anhui 230026 China
| | - Gabriel Loget
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR6226 Rennes F-35000 France
| | - Neso Sojic
- University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux INP, ISM, UMR CNRS 5255 Pessac 33607 France
- State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun P. R. China
- Department of Chemistry, South Ural State University Chelyabinsk 454080 Russian Federation
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12
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Oh K, de Sagazan O, Léon C, Le Gall S, Loget G. Custom plating of nanoscale semiconductor/catalyst junctions for photoelectrochemical water splitting. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:1997-2004. [PMID: 33443521 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08414j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Photoelectrochemical water splitting under harsh chemical conditions can be promoted by dispersed transition metal nanoparticles electrodeposited on n-Si surfaces, without the need for classical protection layers. Although this method is simple, it only allows for poor control of metal morphology and geometry on the photoanode surface. Herein, we introduce templated nanoscale electrodeposition on photoactive n-Si for the customization of nanoscale inhomogeneous Schottky junctions and demonstrate their use as stable photoanodes. The photoelectrochemical properties of the so-manufactured photoanodes exhibit a strong dependence on the photoanodes' geometrical features, and the obtained experimental trends are rationalized using simulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiseok Oh
- Univ Rennes, CNRS, ISCR (Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes)-UMR6226, F-35000 Rennes, France.
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13
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Laskowski FAL, Oener SZ, Nellist MR, Gordon AM, Bain DC, Fehrs JL, Boettcher SW. Nanoscale semiconductor/catalyst interfaces in photoelectrochemistry. NATURE MATERIALS 2020; 19:69-76. [PMID: 31591528 DOI: 10.1038/s41563-019-0488-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Semiconductor structures (for example, films, wires, particles) used in photoelectrochemical devices are often decorated with nanoparticles that catalyse fuel-forming reactions, including water oxidation, hydrogen evolution or carbon-dioxide reduction. For high performance, the catalyst nanoparticles must form charge-carrier-selective contacts with the underlying light-absorbing semiconductor, facilitating either hole or electron transfer while inhibiting collection of the opposite carrier. Despite the key role played by such selective contacts in photoelectrochemical energy conversion and storage, the underlying nanoscale interfaces are poorly understood because direct measurement of their properties is challenging, especially under operating conditions. Using an n-Si/Ni photoanode model system and potential-sensing atomic force microscopy, we measure interfacial electron-transfer processes and map the photovoltage generated during photoelectrochemical oxygen evolution at nanoscopic semiconductor/catalyst interfaces. We discover interfaces where the selectivity of low-Schottky-barrier n-Si/Ni contacts for holes is enhanced via a nanoscale size-dependent pinch-off effect produced when surrounding high-barrier regions develop during device operation. These results thus demonstrate (1) the ability to make nanoscale operando measurements of contact properties under practical photoelectrochemical conditions and (2) a design principle to control the flow of electrons and holes across semiconductor/catalyst junctions that is broadly relevant to different photoelectrochemical devices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sebastian Z Oener
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Michael R Nellist
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Adrian M Gordon
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - David C Bain
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Jessica L Fehrs
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA
| | - Shannon W Boettcher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA.
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14
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Lee SA, Lee TH, Kim C, Choi MJ, Park H, Choi S, Lee J, Oh J, Kim SY, Jang HW. Amorphous Cobalt Oxide Nanowalls as Catalyst and Protection Layers on n-Type Silicon for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation. ACS Catal 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.9b03899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sol A. Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae Hyung Lee
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Changyeon Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Min-Ju Choi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Hoonkee Park
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Seokhoon Choi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Jinwoo Lee
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jihun Oh
- Graduate School of Energy, Environment, Water and Sustainability, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo Young Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Won Jang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Research Institute of Advanced Materials, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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Tailoring the photoelectrochemistry of catalytic metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) photoanodes by a dissolution method. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3522. [PMID: 31387994 PMCID: PMC6684633 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11432-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Apart from being key structures of modern microelectronics, metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) junctions are highly promising electrodes for artificial leaves, i.e. photoelectrochemical cells that can convert sunlight into energy-rich fuels. Here, we demonstrate that homogeneous Si/SiOx/Ni MIS junctions, employed as photoanodes, can be functionalized with a redox-active species and simultaneously converted into high-photovoltage inhomogeneous MIS junctions by electrochemical dissolution. We also report on the considerable enhancement of performance towards urea oxidation, induced by this process. Finally, we demonstrate that both phenomena can be employed synergistically to design highly-efficient Si-based photoanodes. These findings open doors for the manufacturing of artificial leaves that can generate H2 under solar illumination using contaminated water. Designing synthetic systems to convert light into fuel is crucial in renewable energy development. Here, authors study electrodissolution in nickel thin films from metal-insulator-semiconductor junctions and find decreased homogeneity to improve junction properties and catalytic performances.
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Editorial overview: A glance into the future of colloid and interface science: What outstanding young researchers tell us. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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