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Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance of Si Photocathodes with Deposition of Noble Metal Particles

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Abstract

In this study, an Si nanowire (SiNW) array was prepared on a single-crystal Si wafer by a facile Ag-assisted wet-chemical etching route, followed by deposition of ultrathin Pt nanoparticles for enhancing the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance. It was demonstrated that the PEC performance of SiNWs was enhanced significantly after Pt modification. A higher photocurrent density of − 12 mA cm−2 was achieved in Pt/SiNWs at − 0.845V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode, which was six times greater than that of bare SiNWs. The mechanism for the enhanced PEC performance was analyzed by combining the electrochemical impedance spectra and Mott–Schottky plots. As a result, the mechanism was attributed to the improved charge transfer ability at the solid electrode/electrolyte interfaces.

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Acknowledgement

This work is financially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2019ZDPY04).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials Science and Physics, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi Li, Jie Chen, Yulong Zhao, Xiuquan Gu & Liang Mao

  2. Jiangsu Province Engineering Laboratory of Highly Efficient Energy Storage Technology and Equipment, Xuzhou, 221116, People’s Republic of China

    Zhi Li, Jie Chen, Yulong Zhao, Xiuquan Gu & Liang Mao

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  1. Zhi Li
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  2. Jie Chen
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  3. Yulong Zhao
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  4. Xiuquan Gu
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Li, Z., Chen, J., Zhao, Y. et al. Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance of Si Photocathodes with Deposition of Noble Metal Particles. J. Electron. Mater. 50, 6482–6488 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-021-09188-w

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