A conductive ZnO-ZnGaON nanowire-array-on-a film photoanode for stable and efficient sunlight water splitting

作者：Zhong Miao^*; Ma Yanhang; Oleynikov Peter; Domen Kazunari; Delaunay Jean Jacques

来源：Energy & Environmental Science, 2014, 7(5): 1693-1699.

DOI：10.1039/c3ee43806f

We report highly stable and efficient sunlight water splitting on a ZnO-ZnGaON nanowire-array-on-a-film photoanode without the assistance of any co-catalyst. The single crystalline ZnO-ZnGaON nanowirearray- on-a-film photoanode was synthesized via a high-temperature vapor-phase diffusion reaction of gallium (Ga) and nitrogen (N) on a single crystal domain ZnO nanowire-array-on-a-film structure. The synthesized ZnO-ZnGaON photoanode offers visible light absorption through N incorporation, improved electrical conductivity via Ga incorporation, and structural advantages with the high-aspect-ratio nanowire array. Compared to the chemically unstable ZnO nanowire photoanode, the ZnO-ZnGaON nanowire photoanode significantly improves the anti-photocorrosive ability for water splitting. A highly stable photocurrent density of similar to 1.5 mA cm(-2) is obtained with the ZnO-ZnGaON nanowire photoanode at an applied bias of 0.8 V-RHE under continuous sunlight illumination over five hours without noticeable degradation.

• 出版日期2014-5