A Si photocathode protected and activated with a Ti and Ni composite film for solar hydrogen production

Abstract

An efficient, stable and scalable hybrid photoelectrode for visible-light-driven H2 generation in an aqueous pH 9.2 electrolyte solution is reported. The photocathode consists of a p-type Si substrate layered with a Ti and Ni-containing composite film, which acts as both a protection and electrocatalyst layer on the Si substrate. The film is prepared by the simple drop casting of the molecular single-source precursor, [{Ti2(OEt)9(NiCl)}2] (TiNipre), onto the p-Si surface at room temperature, followed by cathodic in situ activation to form the catalytically active TiNi film (TiNicat). The p-Si | TiNicat photocathode exhibits prolonged hydrogen generation with a stable photocurrent of approximately -5 mAcm-2 at 0 V vs. RHE in an aqueous pH 9.2 borate solution for several hours, and serves as a benchmark non-noble photocathode for solar H2 evolution that operates efficiently under neutral-alkaline conditions.