Abstract

Durability is one prerequisite for material application. Photoelectrochemical decomposition of seawater is a promising approach to produce clean hydrogen by using solar energy, but it always faces the problem of serious Cl− corrosion. We find that the main deactivation mechanism of the photoanode is oxide surface reconstruction accompanied by the coordination of Cl− during seawater splitting, and the stability of the photoanode can be effectively improved by enhancing the metal-oxygen interaction. Taking the metastable β-Fe2O3 photoanode as an example, Sn added to the lattice can enhance the M–O bonding energy and hinder the transfer of protons to lattice oxygen, thereby inhibiting excessive surface hydration and Cl− coordination. Therefore, the bare Sn/β-Fe2O3 photoanode delivers a record durability for photoelectrochemical seawater splitting over 3000 h.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.