journal article·2025-01-10Open access

Surface Composition Impacts Selectivity of ZnTe Photocathodes in Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction Reaction

Guosong Zeng, Guiji Liu, Gabriele Panzeri, Chanyeon Kim, Chengyu Song, Olivia J. Alley, Alexis T. Bell, Adam Z. Weber, Francesca M. Toma

ACS Energy Letters· Volume 10· Issue 1

Abstract

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Light-driven reduction of CO 2 into chemicals using a photoelectrochemical (PEC) approach is considered as a promising way to meet the carbon neutral target. The very top surface of the photoelectrode and semiconductor/electrolyte interface plays a pivotal role in defining the performance for PEC CO 2 reduction. However, such impact remains poorly understood. Here, we report an electrodeposition-annealing route for tailoring surface composition of ZnTe photocathodes. Our work demonstrates that a Zn-rich surface on the ZnTe photocathode is essential to impact the CO 2 reduction activity and selectivity. In particular, the Zn-rich surface not only facilitated the interfacial charge carrier transfer, but also acted as electrocatalyst for boosting carbon product selectivity and suppressing the hydrogen evolution reaction. This work provides a new avenue to optimize the photocathode, as well as improvement of the CO 2 RR performance.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts · Advanced Photocatalysis Techniques · Quantum Dots Synthesis And Properties

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

Affiliations

Liquid Sunlight Alliance, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Department of Mechanical and Energy Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China

Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica Giulio Natta, Politecnico di Milano, 20131 Milano, Italy

Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Department of Energy Science & Engineering, DGIST, Daegu 42988 South Korea

National Center for Electron Microscopy, The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States

Institute of Functional Materials for Sustainability, Helmholtz Zentrum Hereon, Kanstrasse 55, 14157 Teltow, Germany

Faculty of Mechanical and Civil Engineering, Helmut Schmidt University, Hamburg 22043, Germany

Funding

Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft · U.S. Department of Energy

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