All-Electrochemically Grown Sb2Se3/a-MoSx Photocathodes for Hydrogen Production: The Effect of the MoSx Layer on the Surface Recombination and Photocorrosion of Sb2Se3 Films

Author(s)

Costa, Magno B. ^[1] ; Lucas, Francisco W. S. ^{[2, 3]} ; Medina, Marina ^[1] ; Mascaro, Lucia H. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Carlos, BR-13565905 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Colorado, Dept Chem, Boulder, CO 80309 - USA

^[3] Univ Colorado, Biol Engn & Renewable & Sustainable Energy Inst, Boulder, CO 80309 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS APPLIED ENERGY MATERIALS; v. 3, n. 10, p. 9799-9808, OCT 26 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Sb2Se3 is considered a promising photocathode material for hydrogen production via solar water splitting. Nevertheless, losses caused by photocorrosion and slow charge transfer at the semiconductor/electrolyte interface require the presence of a cocatalyst to improve the kinetic factors. In this work, the activity of all-electrochemically grown Sb2Se3/amorphousMoS(x) photocathodes was studied in function of the number of cocatalyst deposition cycles. MoSx, a noble-metal-free electrocatalyst, has shown high activity toward the hydrogen evolution reaction. It promoted an similar to 70-time higher improvement in the photocurrent of the Sb2Se3-absorber. An antagonistic effect was observed as the number of cycles increased: thin MoSx layers promoted the maximum enhancement in photocurrent and the decrease in surface recombination, but the photocorrosion inhibition was compromised. In the counterpart, thick MoSx layers allowed the material to be less susceptible to photocorrosion, but the photocurrent was inhibited. Therefore, the relationship between cocatalyst thickness and photocurrent enhancement/inhibition, variation in surface recombination, and photocorrosion stability was evaluated. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/12794-2 - Synthesis, characterization and application of MoS2 and WS2 films in photoelectrocatalysis for hydrogen production
• Grantee: Marina Medina da Silva
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 12/10947-2 - Preparation and characterization of MBSe thin films (M = Ag or Cu; B = In, Ga, Sb or Tl; and S = S or Se) for application in photovoltaic cells"
• Grantee: Francisco Willian de Souza Lucas
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 17/11986-5 - Research Division 1 - dense energy carriers
• Grantee: Ana Flávia Nogueira
• Support type: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program
• FAPESP's process: 17/21365-8 - Electrodeposition and characterization of Sb2Se3 and MSbxSey (M = Cu, Co, Ni, or Zn) thin films for applications in the hydrogen production and CO2 reduction.
• Grantee: Magno Barcelos Costa
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials
• Grantee: Elson Longo da Silva
• Support type: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 18/16401-8 - Photocatalysts and photoelectrodes for obtaining renewable fuels
• Grantee: Lucia Helena Mascaro Sales
• Support type: Regular Research Grants