Earth abundant semiconductors capable of splitting water are needed to tackle the challenges of producing solar fuels economically. Nanoporous “black” silicon has potential in this area through the photoelectrochemical (PEC) reduction of protons to hydrogen due to good bubble nucleation and low reflectivity as well as a modest increase in photocurrent onset potential.1,2 Oxidation of silicon, particularly during the inevitable dark times (i.e. night), complicates both implementation of silicon as a photo-driven water splitter as well as the measurement of fundamental electrochemical properties, such as flat band potential, for silicon in general. Using black silicon as a model platform, I will discuss several catalysts for PEC proton reduction as well as a technique for measuring flat band potential that avoids contributions from insulating oxide growth. These lessons will illustrate general principles relevant to charting a path forward towards sustainable solar fuels production. 1.) J. Oh et al. Energy Environ. Sci. 4, 1690 (2011) 2.) Zhao et al. Nano Lett. 15, 2517 (2015)

Nanoporous black silicon as a platform for photoelectrochemical hydrogen production:  Exciting catalysts and nailing down the flatband potential

251st National Meeting (2016)

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