Plasmon-enhanced light-driven water oxidation by a dye-sensitized photoanode.

Wang, Degao; Sherman, Benjamin D; Farnum, Byron H; Sheridan, Matthew V; Marquard, Seth L; Eberhart, Michael S; Dares, Christopher J; Meyer, Thomas J · Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A · 2017

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPECs) provide a flexible approach for solar water splitting based on the integration of molecular light absorption and catalysis on oxide electrodes. Recent advances in this area, including the use of core/shell oxide interfacial structures and surface stabilization by atomic layer deposition, have led to improved charge-separation lifetimes and the ability to obtain substantially improved photocurrent densities. Here, we investigate the introduction of Ag nanoparticles into the core/shell structure and report that they greatly enhance light-driven water oxidation at a DSPEC photoanode. Under 1-sun illumination, Ag nanoparticle electrodes achieved high photocurrent densities, surpassing 2 mA cm<sup>-2</sup> with an incident photon-to-current efficiency of 31.8% under 450-nm illumination.