Photochemical charge generation, separation, and transport at nanocrystal interfaces are central to photoelectrochemical water splitting, a pathway to hydrogen from solar energy. Here we use surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) to probe these processes in nanocrystal films of photoanode and photocathode materials, incl. WO3, NiO, C3N4, M:SrTiO3, HCa2Nb3O10, CdSe, p-Si, and BiVO4.  Charge injection between nanoparticles can be observed, as well as redox reactions at nanocrystal-liquid interfaces. The ability to monitor these voltage-generating processes with SPS provides new insight into nanoscale charge separation and promotes the development of nanocrystal applications in photoelectrochemical cells, photovoltaics, and as photocatalysts.

Nanoscale junctions for water splitting photocatalysis

248th National Meeting (2014)

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