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p-Si/W2C and p-Si/W2C/Pt photocathodes for the hydrogen evolution reaction
Sean P Berglund1, Huichao He, William D Chemelewski
1Department of Chemical Engineering, ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Electrochemistry, §Texas Materials Institute, and Center for Nano- and Molecular Science, University of Texas at Austin , 1 University Station C0400, Austin, Texas 78712-0231, United States.
Abstract:
p-Si/W2C photocathodes are synthesized by evaporating tungsten metal in an ambient of ethylene gas to form tungsten semicarbide (W2C) thin films on top of p-type silicon (p-Si) substrates. As deposited the thin films contain crystalline W2C with a bulk W:C atomic ratio of approximately 2:1. The W2C films demonstrate catalytic activity for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and p-Si/W2C photocathodes produce cathodic photocurrent at potentials more positive than 0.0 V vs RHE while bare p-Si photocathodes do not. The W2C films are an effective support for Pt nanoparticles allowing for a considerable reduction in Pt loading. p-Si/W2C/Pt photocathodes with Pt nanoparticles achieve photocurrent onset potentials and limiting photocurrent densities that are comparable to p-Si/Pt photocathodes with Pt loading nine times higher. This makes W2C an earth abundant alternative to pure Pt for use as an electrocatalyst on photocathodes for the HER.
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