The solar energy conversion efficiency of photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices is usually limited by poor interface energetics, limiting the onset potential, and light reflection losses. Here, a three‐pronged approach to obtain excellent performance of an InP‐based photoelectrode for water reduction is presented. First, a buried p–n+ junction is fabricated, which shifts the valence band edge favorably with respect to the hydrogen redox potential. Photoelectron spectroscopy substantiates that the shift of the surface photovoltage is mainly determined by the buried junction. Second, a periodic array of InP nanopillars is created at the surface of the photoelectrode to substantially reduce the optical reflection losses. This device displays an unprecedented photocathodic power‐saved efficiency of 15.8% for single junction water reduction. Third, a thin TiO2 protection layer significantly increases the stability of the InP‐based photoelectrode. Careful design of the interface energetics based on surface photovoltage spectroscopy allows obtaining a PEC cell with stable record performance in water reduction.

Spectral sensing is increasingly used in applications ranging from industrial process monitoring to agriculture. Sensing is usually performed by measuring reflected or transmitted light with a spectrometer and processing the resulting spectra. However, realizing compact and mass-manufacturable spectrometers is a major challenge, particularly in the infrared spectral region where chemical information is most prominent. Here we propose a different approach to spectral sensing which dramatically simplifies the requirements on the hardware and allows the monolithic integration of the sensors. We use an array of resonant-cavity-enhanced photodetectors, each featuring a distinct spectral response in the 850-1700 nm wavelength range. We show that prediction models can be built directly using the responses of the photodetectors, despite the presence of multiple broad peaks, releasing the need for spectral reconstruction. The large etendue and responsivity allow us to demonstrate the application of an integrated near-infrared spectral sensor in relevant problems, namely milk and plastic sensing. Our results open the way to spectral sensors with minimal size, cost and complexity for industrial and consumer applications.

Abstract-We present a proof-of-principle demonstration of a low-footprint optical interconnect on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) chip. The optical link consists of a heterogeneously integrated, InP-based microdisk laser (MDL) and microdetector, coupled to a common SOI wire waveguide. Applying an electrical current to the MDL resulted in a detector current up to 1 A.Index Terms-Heterogeneous integration, microdisk laser (MDL), optical interconnect, silicon photonics.

III-V semiconductors such as InP are highly efficient light absorbers for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting devices. Yet, their cathodic stability is limited due to photocorrosion and the measured photocurrents do not necessarily originate from H2 evolution only. We evaluated the PEC stability and activation of model p-InP(100) photocathodes upon photoelectrochemical passivation (i.e. repeated surface oxidation/reduction). The electrode was subjected to a sequence of linear potential scans with or without intermittent passivation steps (repeated passivation and continuous reduction, respectively). The evolution of H2 and PH3 gases was monitored by online electrochemical mass spectrometry (OLEMS) and the Faradaic efficiencies of these processes were determined. Repeated passivation led to an increase of the photocurrent in 0.5 M H2SO4, while continuous reduction did not affect the photocurrent of p-InP(100). Neither H2 nor PH3 formation increased to the same extent as the photocurrent during the repeated passivation treatment. Surface analysis of the spent electrodes revealed substantial roughening of the electrode surface by repeated passivation, while continuous reduction left the surface unaltered. On the other hand, photocathodic conditioning performed in 0.5 M HCl led to the expected correlation between photocurrent increase and H2 formation. Ultimately, the H2 evolution rates of the photoelectrodes in H2SO4 and HCl are comparable. The much higher photocurrent in H2SO4 is due to competing side-reactions. The results emphasize the need for a detailed evaluation of the Faradaic efficiencies of all the involved processes using a chemical-specific technique like OLEMS. Photo-OLEMS can be beneficial in the study of photoelectrochemical reactions enabling the instantaneous detection of small amounts of reaction by-products.

We report on the shape and polarization control of site-controlled multiple and single InAs quantum dots (QDs) on InP pyramids grown by selective-area metal-organic vapor phase epitaxy. With increasing growth temperature the QDs elongate causing strong linear polarization of the photoluminescence. With reduced pyramid base/pyramid top area/QD number, the degree of polarization decreases, attributed to the symmetric pyramid top, reaching zero for single QDs grown at lower temperature. This control of linear polarization is important for entangled photon sources operating in the 1.55 μm wavelength region.