High efficiency photoelectrochemical water splitting and hydrogen generation using GaN nanowire photoelectrode

Abstract

We have studied the photoelectrochemical properties of both undoped and Si-doped GaN nanowire arrays in 1 mol l−1 solutions of hydrogen bromide and potassium bromide, which were used separately as electrolytes. It is observed that variations of the photocurrent with bias voltage depend strongly on the n-type doping in GaN nanowires in both electrolytes, which are analyzed in the context of GaN surface band bending and its variation with the incorporation of Si-doping. Maximum incident-photon-to-current-conversion efficiencies of ∼15% and 18% are measured for undoped and Si-doped GaN nanowires under ∼350 nm light illumination, respectively. Stable hydrogen generation is also observed at a zero bias potential versus the counter-electrode.