Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Nanometer scale imaging to develop quantitative descriptors of bipolar membrane junction structure.

Scientific reports·2026
Same author

Water-soluble swab material for environmental sampling.

Applied and environmental microbiology·2026
Same author

Simplifying the Chemical Design of Nonfused-Ring Electron Acceptors─Lessons Learned from Thienothiophene and Benzodithiophene Cores.

The journal of physical chemistry. A·2026
Same author

Multiscale Characterization of Electrode-Induced Degradation in Perovskite Solar Cells.

ACS applied energy materials·2026
Same author

Phase Diagrams and Piezoelectric Properties of Wurtzite Al<sub>1-x-y</sub>Sc<sub>x</sub>Gd<sub>y</sub>N Heterostructural Alloys.

Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany)·2026
Same author

Revealing Progressive Degradation of Cobalt Oxide Nanoparticles During Thermochemical Redox Cycling via Operando STEM-EELS.

Nano letters·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Synthesis and Characterization of High c-axis ZnO Thin Film by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition System and its UV Photodetector Application
08:18

Synthesis and Characterization of High c-axis ZnO Thin Film by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition System and its UV Photodetector Application

Published on: October 3, 2015

15.2K

ZnTiN2 as an Electron-Selective, Protective Layer on Si Photocathodes.

Anna C Kundmann1,2, John S Mangum2, Mellie Lemon2

  • 1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, California 95616, United States.

ACS Electrochemistry
|June 11, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces zinc titanium nitride (ZnTiN2) as a protective layer for silicon photocathodes, significantly improving durability and efficiency in photoelectrochemical fuel production. ZnTiN2 enhances photovoltage and photocurrent stability in various conditions.

Keywords:
Photoelectrochemistryprotection layersolid-state junctionternary nitride

More Related Videos

Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells
09:32

Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells

Published on: April 25, 2018

8.6K
Solution-Processed "Silver-Bismuth-Iodine" Ternary Thin Films for Lead-Free Photovoltaic Absorbers
10:19

Solution-Processed "Silver-Bismuth-Iodine" Ternary Thin Films for Lead-Free Photovoltaic Absorbers

Published on: September 27, 2018

9.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 13, 2025

Synthesis and Characterization of High c-axis ZnO Thin Film by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition System and its UV Photodetector Application
08:18

Synthesis and Characterization of High c-axis ZnO Thin Film by Plasma Enhanced Chemical Vapor Deposition System and its UV Photodetector Application

Published on: October 3, 2015

15.2K
Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells
09:32

Well-aligned Vertically Oriented ZnO Nanorod Arrays and their Application in Inverted Small Molecule Solar Cells

Published on: April 25, 2018

8.6K
Solution-Processed "Silver-Bismuth-Iodine" Ternary Thin Films for Lead-Free Photovoltaic Absorbers
10:19

Solution-Processed "Silver-Bismuth-Iodine" Ternary Thin Films for Lead-Free Photovoltaic Absorbers

Published on: September 27, 2018

9.7K

Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Renewable Energy

Background:

  • Photoelectrochemical (PEC) fuel production demands robust photoelectrodes for efficient solar energy conversion.
  • Carrier-selective interfaces are crucial for high photovoltage in photovoltaic devices.
  • Semiconductor photoelectrodes require protective layers against degradation in aqueous environments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate zinc titanium nitride (ZnTiN2) as an electron-selective and protective layer for silicon (Si)-based photocathodes.
  • To evaluate the performance and stability of ZnTiN2/Si heterojunctions for PEC applications.
  • To assess the protective capabilities of ZnTiN2 against degradation under various operational conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Fabrication of ZnTiN2/p-type Si heterojunctions.
  • Characterization of photovoltage and photocurrent under different pH and illumination conditions.
  • Long-term stability testing in aqueous solutions (dark and illuminated).
  • Surface analysis using elemental characterization techniques.

Main Results:

  • ZnTiN2 formed a heterojunction with Si, facilitating electron transfer for reduction reactions.
  • ZnTiN2/Si photocathodes achieved an open-circuit voltage of ~400 mV, outperforming bare Si under certain conditions.
  • ZnTiN2 demonstrated significant protection against degradation, with minimal open-circuit voltage loss over 72 hours in dark and 21 hours under illumination.
  • Surface oxides formed on ZnTiN2, consistent with Pourbaix diagrams, which enhanced durability without impeding charge extraction.

Conclusions:

  • ZnTiN2 is a promising material for developing durable and efficient electron-selective layers in Si-based photocathodes.
  • The co-design of carrier-selective and protective layers is vital for advancing PEC fuel production.
  • ZnTiN2 offers a viable solution for enhancing the stability and performance of photoelectrochemical systems.