Study of methods for PT deposition on thin films of Sb2Se3 and its impact in the photoelectrochemistry answer of the material

• Grant number: 19/22131-6
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): February 01, 2020
• Effective date (End): December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal researcher: Juliana Ferreira de Brito
• Grantee: Marcos Vinicius de Lima Tinoco
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials, AP.CEPID

Abstract

Given the growing global energy demand, prospects for the depletion of fossil fuel reserves and the environmental impact caused by the burning of fossil fuels, the present project aims to investigate platinum (Pt) deposition methods on antimony selenide semiconductor films (Sb2Se3) and its impact on the photoelectrochemical response of the material, seeking the development of an efficient material in the conversion of solar energy into carbon-free energy. For this purpose, the Sb2Se3 electrodes will be electrodeposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass (FTO) substrate using a single compartment cell and three electrodes studying photochemical, electrochemical and photoelectrochemical deposition methods. The electrodes will be analyzed in the function of structural, chemical and morphological composition by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray dispersive energy spectroscopy (EDX) and X-rays photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic behavior of the films will be evaluated based on band gap energy (Eg), photocurrent measurements vs. potential and chronoamperometric measurements to verify the behavior and stability of films under constant potential and transient light incidence.