Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising route for the generation of solar fuels for clean and renewable energy production. Water oxidation is a process that requires high overpotentials which cobalt-based catalyst has been shown to significantly reduce. Soft semiconductors, such as cadmium chalcogenides, show a promise for water oxidation photoanodes in their band alignment and bandgap properties. Though, these materials have low photostability in oxidizing environments. Capping of the semiconductor by thin passivating films is a way to stabilize the photoanode. The capping layer also allows further modificationof the surface such as catalyst deposition. We report the preparation and characterization of CdTe photoanodes loaded with cobalt-based catalyst. The CdTe photoanodes are capped with thin films of metal oxides to avoid their photodegradation. We demonstrate both electrochemical and photodeposition of the cobalt-based catalyst on oxide capped CdTe photoanode. Results of photocurrent measurements under visible light show that the photoanodes, following the deposition of the catalyst, exhibit a large increase in the light induced currents. This indicates an increased activity that can be used for water oxidation.

Cobalt-based catalyst deposited on low-bandgap semiconductor photoanodes for visible-light induced water oxidation

240th National Meeting (2010)

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