Crystal Facet‐Controlled Efficient SnS Photocathodes for High Performance Bias‐Free Solar Water Splitting

Abstract

To achieve a high solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency, delicate strategies toward high photocurrent together with sufficient onset potential should be developed. Herein, an SnS semiconductor is reported as a high‐performance photocathode. Use of proper sulfur precursor having weak dipole moment allows to obtain high‐quality dense SnS nanoplates with enlarged favorable crystallographic facet, while suppressing inevitable anisotropic growth. Furthermore, the introducing Ga2O3 layer between SnS and TiO2 in SnS photocathodes efficiently improves the charge transport kinetics without charge trapping. The SnS photocathode reveals the highest photocurrent density of 28 mA cm−2 at 0 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode. Overall solar water splitting is demonstrated for the first time by combining the optimized SnS photocathode with a Mo:BiVO4 photoanode, achieving a STH efficiency of 1.7% and long‐term stability of 24 h. High performance and low‐cost SnS photocathode represent a promising new material in the field of photoelectrochemical solar water splitting.

Efficient solar fuel production enabled by an iodide oxidation reaction on atomic layer deposited MoS2

“…We tested three different anolyte concentrations of KI (i.e., 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 M) to elucidate their effects on the overall electrolyzer performance (Figure 4A). The current density of the MS 500/CP ǁ Pt@C/CP cell is enhanced at high concentrations of KI (0.5 M) owing to the improved conductivity of the anolyte 52 . Specifically, the electrolyzer shows a current density of 10 mA cm –2 at cell voltages of 0.73, 0.68, and 0.66 V as the KI concentrations increase from 0.1 to 0.5 M (Figure 4B).…”

“…The current density of the MS 500/CP ǁ Pt@C/CP cell is enhanced at high concentrations of KI (0.5 M) owing to the improved conductivity of the anolyte. 52 Specifically, the electrolyzer shows a current density of 10 mA cm -2 at cell voltages of 0.73, 0.68, and 0.66 V as the KI concentrations increase from 0.1 to 0.5 M (Figure 4B). The concentration of KI is optimized to 0.5 M since a further increase in the concentration does not improve the current density of MS 500/CP ǁ Pt@C/CP cell (Figure S22).…”

Conductive Passivator and Dipole Layer Mixture Enabling High‐Performance Stable Perovskite Photoelectrode‐Based Solar Water Splitting

“…These artifacts have no direct relevance for the semiconductor junctions. [60,61] We anticipate that this could be due to additional resistance introduced during the electrical connection process between the substrate and the electrode for photoanode fabrication. However, in the impedance spectra, it is evident that the difference between mid and low-frequency resistance depending on the interfacial treatment is more dominant as compared to the resistance variations caused by the artifacts (Figure 3c).…”

Renewable formate from sunlight, biomass and carbon dioxide in a photoelectrochemical cell

“…The solar to chemical energy conversion efficiency was calculated to be ~0.19% (Supplementary Note 1). Further improvement of the efficiency is anticipated by integrating other candidate photoelectrode with higher photocurrent at favorable potentials, such as BiVO 4 and SnS [41][42][43][44] .…”