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Water Splitting Exceeding 17% Solar-to-Hydrogen Conversion Efficiency Using Solution-Processed Ni-Based
Hoonkee Park, Ik Jae Park, Mi Gyoung Lee
1School of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science , Chung-Ang University , 84 Heukseok-ro , Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06974 , Korea.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces
|August 23, 2019
Summary
This study presents novel, cost-effective, noble metal-free electrocatalysts for efficient water splitting. The developed photovoltaic-electrocatalysis system achieves a high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 17.52%.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Electrochemistry
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Noble metal-free electrocatalysts are crucial for efficient water splitting.
- Nickel-based compounds show promise for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) catalysts.
- Developing cost-effective and highly efficient catalytic systems is essential for solar energy conversion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop superior, noble metal-free electrocatalysts for enhanced water splitting.
- To investigate the performance of NiFe (oxy)hydroxide for OER and NiMo films for HER.
- To integrate these catalysts with a perovskite/Si tandem solar cell for direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion.
Main Methods:
- Roll-to-roll processing for NiFe alloy electroformation.
- Anodization method for synthesizing NiFe (oxy)hydroxide OER catalyst.
- Electrodeposition of NiMo films for HER catalyst.
- Spectroscopic and electrochemical analysis.
- Integration with a solution-processed monolithic perovskite/Si tandem solar cell.
Main Results:
- NiFe (oxy)hydroxide OER catalyst showed an overpotential of 250 mV at 10 mA cm-2, significantly lower than bare NiFe alloy (380 mV).
- NiMo HER catalyst exhibited a low overpotential of 100 mV at 10 mA cm-2, compared to bare NiFe alloy (550 mV).
- The photovoltaic-electrocatalysis system achieved a high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 17.52% using MAPb(I0.85Br0.15)3.
Conclusions:
- The developed solution-processed NiFe (oxy)hydroxide and NiMo catalysts offer superior water splitting properties.
- The photovoltaic-electrocatalysis system demonstrates a cost-effective and efficient method for direct solar energy to hydrogen conversion.
- These findings pave the way for advanced, high-performance solar water splitting systems.
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