Photo-electrocatalytic hydrogen generation at dye-sensitised electrodes functionalised with a heterogeneous metal catalyst

Dijon Andrew Hoogeveen, Maxime Fournier, Shannon Bonke, Xi -Ya Fang, Attila J. Mozer, Amaresh Mishra, Peter Bäuerle, Alexandr Simonov, Leone Spiccia

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20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Dye-sensitised photocathodes promoting hydrogen evolution are usually coupled to a catalyst to improve the reaction rate. Herein, we report on the first successful integration of a heterogeneous metal particulate catalyst, viz., Pt aggregates electrodeposited from acidic solutions on the surface of a NiO-based photocathode sensitised with a p-type perylenemonoimid-sexithiophene-triphenylamine dye (PMI-6T-TPA). The platinised dye-NiO electrodes generate photocurrent density of ca −0.03 mA cm−2 (geom.) with 100% faradaic efficiency for the H2 evolution at 0.059 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode under 1 sun visible light irradiation (AM1.5G, 100 mW cm−2, λ > 400 nm) for more than 10 hours in 0.1 M H2SO4 (aq.). The Pt-free dye-NiO and dye-free Pt-modified NiO cathodes show no photo-electrocatalytic hydrogen evolution under these conditions. The performance of these Pt-modified PMI-6T-TPA-based photoelectrodes compares well to that of previously reported dye-sensitised photocathodes for H2 evolution.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)773-780
Number of pages8
JournalElectrochimica Acta
Volume219
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Nov 2016

Keywords

  • dye-sensitised photocathode
  • electrodeposition
  • hydrogen evolution reaction
  • photo-electrocatalysis
  • platinum

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