Boosting the performance of eco-friendly quantum dots-based photoelectrochemical cells via effective surface passivation

Tong, Xin; Channa, Ali Imran; You, Yimin; Wei, Peipei; Li, Xin; Lin, Feng; Wu, Jiang; Vomiero, Alberto; Wang, Zhiming M.

doi:10.1016/j.nanoen.2020.105062

Cited by 53 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…In this context, the challenges for achieving high STH efficiency and excellent long-term stability (STH efficiency as a function of illumination time) are: i) how to enhance the photoelectrode's light-harvesting ability; ii) how to improve charge separation; iii) how to facilitate charge transfer/transport; iv) how to minimize charge recombination. [13c] Aiming to address these issues, materials and structures used in QDs-based PEC devices have undergone rapid development, including synthesizing QDs with proper light absorption and band structure to maximize solar energy conversion, [44] designing nanostructured photoelectrodes with specific morphologies, [45] improving the QDs-loading methods to optimize the deposition of QDs, [46] and engineering the surface of the photoelectrodes to maximize charge transport and maintain long-term stability. [47] Some efforts were also devoted to applying a tandem cell configuration to improve STH efficiency [6,48] and fabricating various counter electrodes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum Dots‐Based Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting

Liu

Zhao

Wang

et al. 2021

Advanced Energy Materials

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opportunity since it is by far the most abundant, sustainable, carbon-neutral, and inexpensive energy source. The theoretical potential of solar power striking the earth's surface is ≈89 300 TW (the integral of the time-and-space-averaged solar flux 342.5 W m −2 over the earth's surface area 5.11 × 10 14 m 2 , estimating that ≈30% and ≈19% are scattered and absorbed by the atmosphere and clouds), [3] which is equivalent to ≈6000 times the power used worldwide every year (estimated at 13.5 TW in 2001, with projected growth up to 27.6 TW by 2050 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). [4] In particular, storing solar energy in the form of H 2 presents advantages such as high energy content per mass (143 MJ kg −1), ease of transportation, and cost-effectiveness, [5] thereby addressing the storage challenge which is associated with the diffuse and intermittent character of solar irradiation. Solar energy and water could be converted into H 2 [5b] indirectly by using solar-converted electricity and an electrolyzer, [6] concentrated solar thermal and an electrolyzer, [7] biological and thermochemical processes [8] or directly by photo-/photoelectrocatalysis of water. [1b,f,g] The combination of the energy conversion step with electrolyzers is always limited by the performance of the electrolyzers, whose typical commercial efficiencies are around 73%. [9] Besides, indirect technologies suffer from excessive cost, area requirements, feasibility issues, or energy loss. [10] An alternative direct route is the photo-/photoelectrocatalysis of water, including powdered photocatalysts [11] and photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells. [12] The dispersion of powdered photocatalysts in water is suitable for large-scale processes, while the system requires stirring during the reaction and product separation after the reaction. In comparison, PEC systems (Figure 1a), which combine harvesting solar energy with water reduction into a single device, possesses several advantages. [13] i) PEC reactions address the issue of gas separation by generating products at different electrodes. ii) An external bias supply or self-bias voltage in the PEC system can provide additional energy input to compensate for the potential deficiency, [14] leading to the formation of a surface space charge layer and achieving efficient charge separation and an increased number of long-living photogenerated charges. [15] iii) Moreover, PEC systems can potentially be operated using only stable and abundant materials, such as Cu-based metal oxides, [16] Fe 2 O 3 , [14b,17] and TiO 2. [18] In a typical PEC system, at least one photoelectrode is used as a working electrode to harvest solar radiation, either acting Solar-driven photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen evolution is a promising and sustainable approach to convert solar energy into a fuel that can be stored. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) are increasingly used in PEC devices due to their broad composition/size/shape tunable absorption spectrum (from ultraviolet to near-infrared, with significant over...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantum Dots‐Based Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting

Liu

Zhao

Wang

et al. 2021

Advanced Energy Materials

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“…Device stability is a vital factor of solar‐driven PEC systems for sustainable H 2 generation. As reported by our prior work, the additional inorganic ZnS layer deposited on the QD‐based photoanode can simultaneously improve the PEC performance and device durability [24] . To optimize the PEC performance and stability of AZ#2 QDs‐based photoelectrode, various ZnS monolayers (4, 6, 8) were further deposited on the device by SILAR method.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The photo‐excited electrons can transfer from QDs to TiO 2 ‐GO film and Pt counter electrode for inducing H 2 evolution, whereas the photo‐excited holes are consumed by the electrolyte [44] . To prevent photocorrosion of the QD‐based TiO 2 ‐GO hybrid photoanode, ZnS layers were deposited by using successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) approach [24] …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is suggested that appropriately engineering the ZnSe shell thickness results in effective surface defects passivation of AISe core for suppressed non-radiative recombination and improved stability. The optimized AISe/ZnSe core/shell QDs with extended photoluminescence (PL) lifetime were used to fabricate the PEC cells with engineered device structure for solar H 2 evolution, [23,24] delivering an excellent maximum photocurrent density up to 7.5 mA cm À 2 with outstanding durability under AM 1.5G irradiation (1 sun, 100 mW cm À 2 ), which is competitive to the stateof-the-art eco-friendly QDs-PEC systems.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Engineered Environment‐Friendly Colloidal Core/Shell Quantum Dots for High‐Efficiency Solar‐Driven Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution

et al. 2022

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Green" colloidal quantum dots (QDs)-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells are promising solar energy conversion systems possessing environmental friendliness, cost-effectiveness, and highly efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion. In this work, ecofriendly AgInSe (AISe)/ZnSe core/shell QDs with wurtzite (WZ) phase were synthesized for solar hydrogen production. It was demonstrated that appropriately engineering the ZnSe shell thickness resulted in effective surface defects passivation of the AISe core for suppressed charge recombination in the consequent core/shell AISe/ZnSe QDs. The fabricated environmentally friendly core/shell QDs-based PEC device exhibited improved photo-excited electrons extraction efficiency under optimized conditions and delivered a maximum photocurrent density as high as 7.5 mA cm À 2 and long-term durability under standard AM 1.5G illumination (100 mW cm À 2 ). These findings suggest that AISe/ZnSe core/shell QDs with tailored optoelectronic properties are potential light sensitizers for eco-friendly, costeffective, and highly efficient solar energy conversion applications.[a] Z. Long, Prof.

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“…The performance of an LSC is heavily determined by the optical characteristics of the luminophore and its concentration in the LSC. Much attention has been given to QDs as ideal luminophores for their wide absorption spectra, controllable emission spectra, and high stability [24–30] . In addition to applications in LSC technology, the controllable emissions spectra of QDs have enabled the development of QDs as a photocatalyst in hydrogen production [31–36] .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review on Colloidal Quantum Dots Luminescent Solar Concentrators

et al. 2021

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Luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) have recently gained popularity as an effective solution to increase solar energy conversion. Utilizing LSCs together with solar cells can generate more energy at a lower cost than using only solar cells. LSCs operate by utilizing luminophores, molecules that absorb incident solar irradiation and re‐emit photons, and waveguides that redirect emitted photons to the edges of a glass or polymer slab at high concentrations. Many quantum dots (QDs) have been the focus of much research as luminophores for LSCs, owing to their high quantum yields (QYs), controllable absorption/emission spectra, good stability, and ease of synthesis. Various QDs, such as CdSe, PbS, CdS, AgInS2, Si, and C, have been modified to enhance their optical performances in LSCs, often measured by their optical efficiencies, internal/external quantum efficiencies, and power conversion efficiencies. This review appraises the latest developments in colloidal QDs—basic QDs, doped QDs, core/shell QDs, hybrid QDs, and Si‐based QD—for their applications in LSCs. Other factors that enhance an LSC's efficiency, such as altering the polymer matrix and using distributed Bragg reflectors, are discussed. The development of highly efficient, QD‐based LSCs will be essential for increasing solar energy production worldwide.

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Boosting the performance of eco-friendly quantum dots-based photoelectrochemical cells via effective surface passivation

Cited by 53 publications

References 49 publications

Quantum Dots‐Based Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting

Quantum Dots‐Based Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution from Water Splitting

Engineered Environment‐Friendly Colloidal Core/Shell Quantum Dots for High‐Efficiency Solar‐Driven Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution

Review on Colloidal Quantum Dots Luminescent Solar Concentrators

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