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Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation in neutral electrolyte using non-vacuum processed CIGS photocathodes with an earth-abundant cobalt sulfide catalyst

Wang, M; Chang, YS; Tsao, CW; Fang, MJ; Hsu, YJ; Choy, KL; (2019) Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation in neutral electrolyte using non-vacuum processed CIGS photocathodes with an earth-abundant cobalt sulfide catalyst. Chemical Communications , 55 (17) pp. 2465-2468. 10.1039/C8CC09426H. Green open access

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Abstract

This work reports the novelty of using eco-friendly and cost-effective non-vacuum Electrostatic Spray-Assisted Vapour Deposited Cu(In,Ga)SSe (CIGS) thin films as photocathodes, combining with the earth abundant cobalt sulfide (Co-S) functioned as a catalyst to accelerate the kinetics of photogenerated electrons transfer and hydrogen generation for photoelectrochemical water splitting. CdS and ZnO layer were subsequently deposited on top of the selenised CIGS films to increase the charge separation and lower the charge recombination for the photocathodes. In order to improve the lifetime and scalability of the CIGS photocathode and the other cell components, photoelectrochemical test was conducted in a neutral electrolyte of 0.5 M Na2SO4 under simulated sunlight (AM 1.5G). Both the photocurrent densities and the onset potentials of the photocathodes were significantly improved by the electrodeposition of the low cost and earth abundant Co-S catalyst, with photocurrent density as high as 19.1 mA/cm2 at -0.34 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), comparable and even higher than that of the control photocathode using rare and precious Pt as catalyst.

Type: Article
Title: Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen generation in neutral electrolyte using non-vacuum processed CIGS photocathodes with an earth-abundant cobalt sulfide catalyst
Open access status: An open access version is available from UCL Discovery
DOI: 10.1039/C8CC09426H
Publisher version: https://doi.org/10.1039/C8CC09426H
Language: English
Additional information: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/).
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > MAPS Faculty Office
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Maths and Physical Sciences > MAPS Faculty Office > Institute for Materials Discovery
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10067781
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