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Hydrogel protection strategy to stabilize water-splitting photoelectrodes

Author

Listed:
  • Jeiwan Tan

    (Yonsei University)

  • Byungjun Kang

    (Yonsei University)

  • Kyungmin Kim

    (Yonsei University)

  • Donyoung Kang

    (Yonsei University)

  • Hyungsoo Lee

    (Yonsei University)

  • Sunihl Ma

    (Yonsei University)

  • Gyumin Jang

    (Yonsei University)

  • Hyungsuk Lee

    (Yonsei University)

  • Jooho Moon

    (Yonsei University)

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical water splitting is an attractive solar-to-hydrogen pathway. However, the lifetime of photoelectrochemical devices is hampered by severe photocorrosion of semiconductors and instability of co-catalysts. Here we report a strategy for stabilizing photoelectrochemical devices that use a polyacrylamide hydrogel as a highly permeable and transparent device-on-top protector. A hydrogel-protected Sb2Se3 photocathode exhibits stability over 100 h, maintaining ~70% of the initial photocurrent, and the degradation rate gradually decreases to the saturation level. The structural stability of a Pt/TiO2/Sb2Se3 photocathode remains unchanged beyond this duration, and effective bubble escape is ensured through the micro gas tunnel formed in the hydrogel to achieve a mechanically stable protector. We demonstrate the versatility of the device-on-top hydrogel protector under a wide electrolyte pH range and by using a SnS photocathode and a BiVO4 photoanode with ~500 h of lifetime.

Suggested Citation

  • Jeiwan Tan & Byungjun Kang & Kyungmin Kim & Donyoung Kang & Hyungsoo Lee & Sunihl Ma & Gyumin Jang & Hyungsuk Lee & Jooho Moon, 2022. "Hydrogel protection strategy to stabilize water-splitting photoelectrodes," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 7(6), pages 537-547, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:7:y:2022:i:6:d:10.1038_s41560-022-01042-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41560-022-01042-5
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Li Zhang & Xiaoju Yang & Qing Yuan & Zhiming Wei & Jie Ding & Tianshu Chu & Chao Rong & Qiao Zhang & Zhenkun Ye & Fu-Zhen Xuan & Yueming Zhai & Bowei Zhang & Xuan Yang, 2023. "Elucidating the structure-stability relationship of Cu single-atom catalysts using operando surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Byungjun Kang & Jeiwan Tan & Kyungmin Kim & Donyoung Kang & Hyungsoo Lee & Sunihl Ma & Young Sun Park & Juwon Yun & Soobin Lee & Chan Uk Lee & Gyumin Jang & Jeongyoub Lee & Jooho Moon & Hyungsuk Lee, 2024. "Stable water splitting using photoelectrodes with a cryogelated overlayer," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. Chao Zhen & Xiangtao Chen & Ruotian Chen & Fengtao Fan & Xiaoxiang Xu & Yuyang Kang & Jingdong Guo & Lianzhou Wang & Gao Qing (Max) Lu & Kazunari Domen & Hui-Ming Cheng & Gang Liu, 2024. "Liquid metal-embraced photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu & Kishore Sridharan & Sanjay Nagarajan & Sengeni Ananthraj & Peter Robertson & Moritz F. Kuehnel & Ángel Irabien & Mercedes Maroto-Valer, 2022. "Solar Hydrogen Fuel Generation from Wastewater—Beyond Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting: A Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-23, October.

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