journal article·2023-05-12

Nanostructured Tantalum Nitride for Enhanced Solar Water Splitting

Yuriy Pihosh, Vikas Nandal, Ryota Shoji, Raman Bekarevich, Tomohiro Higashi, Valeria Nicolosi, Hiroyuki Matsuzaki, Kazuhiko Seki, Kazunari Domen

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 8· Issue 5
Publisher page

Abstract

High-performance solar-water-splitting technologies are of paramount interest for the cost-effective generation of hydrogen fuel; however, their realization is majorly limited by the poor solar light absorption and charge separation inside photoanode semiconductors. Herein, we develop photoanodes made from polycrystalline tantalum nitride nanorods (Ta 3 N 5 NRs) to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. The morphology and crystalline properties of Ta 3 N 5 NRs are optimized by tuning essential parameters of glancing angle deposition and nitridation techniques, respectively. Under a simulated AM1.5G solar spectrum, the photoanodes demonstrate a tremendous gain in photocurrent from 1.54 mA cm –2 to 10.96 mA cm –2 at 1.23 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode for water oxidation activity. Photoluminescence, transient diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and theoretical analyses identify prominent factors (like charge carrier lifetime, diffusion length, etc.) responsible for the enhanced performance. Our work presents the significance of designing the narrow-energy band-gap photoanodes with broad implications toward efficient solar-water-splitting devices for green hydrogen production.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · 2D Materials and Applications · MXene and MAX Phase Materials

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Office of University Professors, The University of Tokyo, 2-11-16 Yayoi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan

Global Zero Emission Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan

Research Institute for Material and Chemical Measurement, National Metrology Institute of Japan (NMIJ), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, 1-1-1 Higashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8565, Japan

Advanced Microscopy Laboratory, Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

Institute for Tenure Track Promotion, University of Miyazaki, Nishi 1-1 Gakuen-Kibanadai, Miyazaki 889-2192, Japan

School of Chemistry, Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices (CRANN) and Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research Centre (AMBER), Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland

Research Initiative for Supra-Materials, Interdisciplinary Cluster for Cutting Edge Research, Shinshu University, 4-17-1 Wakasato, Nagano-shi, Nagano 380-8553, Japan

Funding

New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization

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