The development of photoelectrochemical cells and photocatalysts is currently limited by the availability of stable and inexpensive materials that also possess large absorption coefficients, small band gaps, long charge carrier lifetimes, high charge mobility, and fast charge transfer. In this talk we show that Surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) is a useful tool for the determination of many of these properties. In SPS, the surface potential of an illuminated sample film is recorded with a Kelvin probe as a function of the wavelength. The scan provides information about the effective band gap, absorption coefficient, majority carrier type, built-in potential, charge transfer rates, and charge transfer reversibility in a wide range of materials. Spectra acquired on molecular, polymeric, inorganic micro- and nanostructured materials will be presented. Because of its reliance on two-dimensional samples and its measurement timescale, SPS is well suited for the automated screening of materials libraries from combinatorial syntheses and theoretical searches (Materials Genome Initiative).

Surface photovoltage spectroscopy as a screening tool for solar energy conversion materials and photocatalysts

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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