Author
Listed:
- Francesca M. Toma
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Jason K. Cooper
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Viktoria Kunzelmann
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Technische Universität München)
- Matthew T. McDowell
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
Present address: G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA)
- Jie Yu
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- David M. Larson
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Nicholas J. Borys
(Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Christine Abelyan
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Jeffrey W. Beeman
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Kin Man Yu
(Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Present address: Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong)
- Jinhui Yang
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Le Chen
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Matthew R. Shaner
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology)
- Joshua Spurgeon
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, California Institute of Technology
California Institute of Technology
Present address: Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, USA)
- Frances A. Houle
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
- Kristin A. Persson
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Energy Technologies Area, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley)
- Ian D. Sharp
(Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory)
Abstract
Artificial photosynthesis relies on the availability of semiconductors that are chemically stable and can efficiently capture solar energy. Although metal oxide semiconductors have been investigated for their promise to resist oxidative attack, materials in this class can suffer from chemical and photochemical instability. Here we present a methodology for evaluating corrosion mechanisms and apply it to bismuth vanadate, a state-of-the-art photoanode. Analysis of changing morphology and composition under solar water splitting conditions reveals chemical instabilities that are not predicted from thermodynamic considerations of stable solid oxide phases, as represented by the Pourbaix diagram for the system. Computational modelling indicates that photoexcited charge carriers accumulated at the surface destabilize the lattice, and that self-passivation by formation of a chemically stable surface phase is kinetically hindered. Although chemical stability of metal oxides cannot be assumed, insight into corrosion mechanisms aids development of protection strategies and discovery of semiconductors with improved stability.
Suggested Citation
Francesca M. Toma & Jason K. Cooper & Viktoria Kunzelmann & Matthew T. McDowell & Jie Yu & David M. Larson & Nicholas J. Borys & Christine Abelyan & Jeffrey W. Beeman & Kin Man Yu & Jinhui Yang & Le C, 2016.
"Mechanistic insights into chemical and photochemical transformations of bismuth vanadate photoanodes,"
Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-11, November.
Handle:
RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12012
DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12012
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