Long-term solar water and CO2 splitting with photoelectrochemical BiOI-BiVO 4 tandems

TY - JOUR

T1 - Long-term solar water and CO2 splitting with photoelectrochemical BiOI-BiVO 4 tandems

AU - Andrei, Virgil

AU - Jagt, Robert A

AU - Rahaman, Motiar

AU - Lari, Leonardo

AU - Lazarov, Vlado K

AU - MacManus-Driscoll, Judith L

AU - Hoye, Robert L Z

AU - Reisner, Erwin

N1 - © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. Further copying may not be permitted; contact the publisher for details

PY - 2022/5/26

Y1 - 2022/5/26

N2 - Photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices have been developed for direct solar fuel production but the limited stability of submerged light absorbers can hamper their commercial prospects. 1,2 Here, we demonstrate photocathodes with an operational H 2 evolution activity over weeks, by integrating a BiOI light absorber into a robust, oxide-based architecture with a graphite paste conductive encapsulant. In this case, the activity towards proton and CO 2 reduction is mainly limited by catalyst degradation. We also introduce multiple-pixel devices as an innovative design principle for PEC systems, displaying superior photocurrents, onset biases and stability over corresponding conventional single-pixel devices. Accordingly, PEC tandem devices comprising multiple-pixel BiOI photocathodes and BiVO 4 photoanodes can sustain bias-free water splitting for 240 h, while devices with a Cu 92In 8 alloy catalyst demonstrate unassisted syngas production from CO 2.

AB - Photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices have been developed for direct solar fuel production but the limited stability of submerged light absorbers can hamper their commercial prospects. 1,2 Here, we demonstrate photocathodes with an operational H 2 evolution activity over weeks, by integrating a BiOI light absorber into a robust, oxide-based architecture with a graphite paste conductive encapsulant. In this case, the activity towards proton and CO 2 reduction is mainly limited by catalyst degradation. We also introduce multiple-pixel devices as an innovative design principle for PEC systems, displaying superior photocurrents, onset biases and stability over corresponding conventional single-pixel devices. Accordingly, PEC tandem devices comprising multiple-pixel BiOI photocathodes and BiVO 4 photoanodes can sustain bias-free water splitting for 240 h, while devices with a Cu 92In 8 alloy catalyst demonstrate unassisted syngas production from CO 2.

U2 - 10.1038/s41563-022-01262-w

DO - 10.1038/s41563-022-01262-w

M3 - Article

C2 - 35618828

SN - 1476-1122

JO - Nature Materials

JF - Nature Materials

ER -