Tantalum nitride nanorod arrays: Introducing Ni-Fe layered double hydroxides as a cocatalyst strongly stabilizing photoanodes in water splitting

Abstract

Ta 3 N 5 nanostructures are widely explored as anodes for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Although the material shows excellent semiconductive properties for this purpose, the key challenge is its severe photocorrosion when used in typical aqueous environments. In the present work we introduce a NiFe layered double hydroxide (LDH) cocatalyst that dramatically reduces photocorrosion effects. To fabricate the Ta 3 N 5 electrode, we use through-template anodization of Ta and obtain oxide nanorod arrays that then are converted to Ta 3 N 5 by high temperature nitridation. After modification with our cocatalyst system, we obtained solar photocurrents of 6.3 mA cm -2 at 1.23 V RHE in 1 M KOH, and an electrode maintains about 80% of the initial activity for extended irradiation times.