Photoelectrodeposition of Pt nanoparticles on Sb2Se3 photocathodes for enhanced water splitting

Author(s)

de Lima Tinoco, Marcos Vinicius ; Costa, Magno Barcelos ; Mascaro, Lucia Helena ; de Brito, Juliana Ferreira

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Electrochimica Acta; v. 382, p. 11-pg., 2021-04-18.

Abstract

One of the biggest challenges around photochemical materials is to develop highly active and stable catalysts, if possible, with a simple synthesis methodology. This study presents the photoactivity of Sb2Se3 semiconductor containing Pt nanoparticles obtained with a fast deposition rate. The deposition of Pt nanoparticles using the electrodeposition (ED) and photoelectrodeposition (PED) methods was investigated. Even with the same electrodeposition charge, the photocatalyst prepared using PED resulted in a material with photocurrent density almost three times higher than the one prepared through ED. There is a difference in the nucleation and growth kinetics of Pt nanoparticles between the two methods. The Pt growth using ED was characterized by the agglomeration of Pt with consequent formation of larger metal particles, while PED generated new sites for the metal deposition, allowing a better distribution of Pt on the surface of the semiconductor and improving the photocurrent density, charge transfer, and photoconversion of the photocatalyst. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/11986-5 - Generation and storage of New Energy: bringing technological development for the country
• Grantee: Ana Flávia Nogueira
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program
• FAPESP's process: 14/50249-8 - Green chemistry: sustainable synthetic methods employing benign solvents, safer reagents, and bio-renewable feedstock
• Grantee: Arlene Gonçalves Corrêa
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research Centers in Engineering Program
• FAPESP's process: 18/16401-8 - Photocatalysts and photoelectrodes for obtaining renewable fuels
• Grantee: Lucia Helena Mascaro Sales
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/22131-6 - Study of methods for PT deposition on thin films of Sb2Se3 and its impact in the photoelectrochemistry answer of the material
• Grantee: Marcos Vinicius de Lima Tinoco
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• FAPESP's process: 18/02950-0 - Photoelectrocatalytic reduction of N2 to NH3 in a photoelectrochemistry reactor with a photoanode-driven of Nb2O5/Pt and cathode of GDL decorated with Fe, Co and Sb2Se3
• Grantee: Juliana Ferreira de Brito
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/07296-2 - CDMF - Center for the Development of Functional Materials
• Grantee: Elson Longo da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• 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 Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate