Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production from silicon nanowire array photocathode.

Oh, Ilwhan; Kye, Joohong; Hwang, Seongpil · Nano Lett · 2012

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Herein we report that silicon nanowires (SiNWs) fabricated via metal-catalyzed electroless etching yielded a photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation performance superior to that of a planar Si, which is attributed to a lower kinetic overpotential due to a higher surface roughness, favorable shift in the flat-band potential, and light-trapping effects of the SiNW surface. The SiNW photocathode yielded a photovoltage of 0.42 V, one of the highest values ever reported for hydrogen generation on p-type Si/electrolyte interfaces.

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