Controlling the Crystallographic Orientation of Sb₂Se₃ Film for Efficient Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting

Abstract

Finding a cost-effective semiconductor with commercial performance for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting remains challenging. Sb 2 Se 3 , as a low-cost semiconductor, has excellent photo/electric properties for PEC water splitting. Via adjusting the Sb/Se ratio in the precursor ink, the Sb 2 Se 3 with favorable crystallographic orientation can be effectively controlled. The ink with an atomic ratio of Sb/ Se ¼ 1:3 induces the growth of a compact Sb 2 Se 3 film with a preferred orientation, resulting in rapid charge transport and high photocurrent. After depositing TiO 2 and Pt in turn, the photocathode with a structure of FTO/Au/Sb 2 Se 3 /TiO 2 /Pt exhibits a photocurrent density of 11.3 mA cm À2 at 0 V RHE . An unassisted solar water splitting device integrating the Sb 2 Se 3 -based photocathode with an inorganic perovskite photovoltaic cell achieves a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 2.45%. The efficient Sb 2 Se 3 -based photocathode shows promising potential for solar fuel production.

Perovskite‐Solar‐Cell‐Powered Integrated Fuel Conversion and Energy‐Storage Devices

“…Liang et al [129] formed a compact structure by connecting two PSC and CoP NR catalyst electrodes in tandem via a low-cost and simple encapsulation technique that could be directly immersed in water to accomplish water splitting (Figure 9a). Wang et al [130] synthesized Sb 2 Se 3 films for watersplitting applications by tuning the Sb/Se molar ratio. The combination of the morphological structure, crystal orientation, and energy band structure analyses illustrates that the dense Sb 2 Se 3 film readily transports electrons to the surface through the covalently bonded bands (Figure 9b).…”

“…Wang et al. [ 130 ] synthesized Sb 2 Se 3 films for water‐splitting applications by tuning the Sb/Se molar ratio. The combination of the morphological structure, crystal orientation, and energy band structure analyses illustrates that the dense Sb 2 Se 3 film readily transports electrons to the surface through the covalently bonded bands (Figure 9b).…”

“…b) PEC-PV tandem device for solar water splitting. Reproduced with permission [130]. Copyright 2021, Wiley-VCH.…”

Comparison of Thin Film Sb 2 Se 3 Solar Cell Device Parameters: with Different Electron Transport Layer

“…Wang M et al [24] Despite its low price tag, Sb 2 Se 3 is a high-performance photoelectric and photothermal semiconductor. As a result, when the Sb/Se ratio is high, it affects the crystallographic orientation of Sb 2 Se 3 .…”

Solution-processed Sb2Se3 photocathodes under Se-rich conditions and their photoelectrochemical properties

“…Novel materials with p-type characteristics have been intensively researched to produce an efficient and durable photocathode in a photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting system. [1][2][3][4][5] Antimony selenide (Sb 2 Se 3 ) has received much attention as a promising candidate material for this purpose, [6][7][8][9][10] because it has several attractive features for an efficient, durable, and economical PEC water splitting system. Sb 2 Se 3 is a p-type semiconductor with a suitable band position for the hydrogen evolution reaction.…”