Super-hydrophilic electrode encapsulated lead halide-perovskite photoanode toward stable and efficient photoelectrochemical water splitting

Abstract

Lead halide perovskites with excellent optoelectronic properties have been recognized as one of the most promising photoelectrode materials for photoelectrochemical water splitting during the past decade. However, fabricating stable and efficient halide-perovskite photoanodes remains a considerable challenge due to the degradation of halide perovskites in electrolyte environment and the lack of effective encapsulating techniques. Herein, we report a unique halide-perovskite photoelectrochemical cell by using an inverted fluorine-doped tin oxide coated glass (FTO/glass) as the waterproof hole-transport layer for encapsulation, and inserting a two-dimensional (2D) perovskite layer for passivation. The halide-perovskite photoanode achieves high-efficiency oxygen evolution reaction, fast bubble releasing and an outstanding long-term stability of 30.9 h at 90 % of the initial photocurrent density (up to 16.55 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode) under solar illumination. Our unique and cost-effective encapsulation method could be a potential solution for realizing stable and efficient halide-perovskite photoelectrodes for solar-fuel energy conversion.