Plasmonic Light Scattering via Au Nanoparticles for Extended Photo Absorption in InGaN/GaN Multiquantum Wells for Unbiased Stable Solar-Driven Water Splitting

Abstract

Herein, we investigated the influence of changing the number of InGaN/GaN quantum well pairs, optical bandgap tuning, and plasmonic coupling of Au nanoparticles (NPs) with multiquantum wells (MQWs) in photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. MQWs displayed a 2-fold improvement in photocurrent density and applied bias photon-to-current conversion efficiency (ABPE%) as compared to reference GaN at zero bias. Tuning the optical band gap by varying the growth temperature of MQWs has also been shown to influence the performance of PEC water splitting. In comparison to the blue emission, the green emission sample showed a 15% improvement in photocurrent density and ABPE%. Decoration of MQWs with Au NPs significantly enhanced photocurrent density and stability. This is the first time that such a gigantic improvement in stability has been obtained for MQWs in PEC water splitting. Au NP/MQWs showed 80% photocurrent retention after 13.9 h.

Silver-Boosted WO3/CuWO4 Heterojunction Thin Films for Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Efficiency

“…The lifetime of the oscillating electron cloud is limited due to various radiative and nonradiative damping processes. Radiative damping results in the emission of photons, while nonradiative damping leads to the creation of electron–hole pairs through interband and intraband excitations . In this study, as the size of the dewetting-driven Ag NPs decorated over WO 3 /CuWO 4 is larger than 50 nm and the absorption spectrum of WO 3 /CuWO 4 overlaps, the plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer (PRIET) is accountable for enhanced PEC water splitting in the WO 3 /CuWO 4 /Ag photoanode.…”

“…Radiative damping results in the emission of photons, while nonradiative damping leads to the creation of electron−hole pairs through interband and intraband excitations. 57 In this study, as the size of the dewetting-driven Ag NPs decorated over WO 3 /CuWO 4 is larger than 50 nm and the absorption spectrum of WO 3 / CuWO 4 overlaps, the plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer (PRIET) is accountable for enhanced PEC water splitting in the WO 3 /CuWO 4 /Ag photoanode. The PRIET process involves the transfer of charge carriers in the plasmonic material to the semiconductor via an electric field or dipole− dipole interaction, without radiative loss.…”

Use of Gold Nanoparticles in Indium Gallium Nitride Growth for Improving the Photoactive Electrical Performance of p–n Junctions

“…Several reports mentioned that the use of metallic NPs in InGaN-based solar cells increases the efficiency of the device and is attributed to the induction of LSPR effects produced by the NPs. − According to Jiang et al, the improvement in the photogenerated current can be accomplished through light scattering and near-field light concentration produced by embedded Ag NPs in InGaN/GaN MQW solar cells. Furthermore, theoretical approximations reveal the correlation of the NPs’ location, filling fraction, and particle size on the harvesting of incident photons in MQW double-heterojunction InGaN/GaN …”