Surface restoration of polycrystalline Sb₂Se₃ thin films by conjugated molecules enabling high-performance photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting


Tan, Jeiwan, Yang, Wooseok, Lee, Hyungsoo, Park, Jaemin, Kim, Kyungmin, Hutter, Oliver S, Phillips, Laurie J ORCID: 0000-0001-5181-1565, Shim, Sanggi, Yun, Juwon, Park, Youngsun et al (show 3 more authors) (2021) Surface restoration of polycrystalline Sb₂Se₃ thin films by conjugated molecules enabling high-performance photocathodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 286. p. 119890. ISSN 0926-3373, 1873-3883

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Abstract

Achieving both high onset potential and photocurrent in photoelectrodes is a key challenge while performing unassisted overall water splitting using tandem devices. We propose a simple interface modification strategy to maximize the performance of polycrystalline Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> photocathodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. The para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) modification at Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf>/TiO<inf>2</inf> interface enhanced both the onset potential and photocurrent of the Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> photocathodes. The surface defects in the polycrystalline Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> limited the photovoltage production, lowering the onset potential of the photocathode. Surface restoration using the conjugated PABA molecules efficiently passivated the surface defects on the Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> and enabled the rapid photoelectron transport from the Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> to the TiO<inf>2</inf> layer. The PABA treated Sb<inf>2</inf>Se<inf>3</inf> photocathode exhibited substantially improved PEC performance; the onset potential increased from 0.35 to 0.50 V compared to the reversible hydrogen electrode (V<inf>RHE</inf>), and the photocurrent density increased from 24 to 35 mA cm<sup>−2</sup> at 0 V<inf>RHE</inf>.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: Onset potential, Photocurrent density, Buried junction, Defect passivation, Conjugated amino acid
Depositing User: Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited: 27 Jan 2021 09:18
Last Modified: 07 Jun 2025 10:01
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2021.119890
Related Websites:
URI: https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3114848
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