N-doped monolayer graphene catalyst on silicon photocathode for hydrogen production

• DOI: 10.1039/c3ee42106f
• Publication Date: 2013-09-10T21:48:54Z
• Authors: Uk Sim; Tae-Youl Yang; Joonhee Moon; Junghyun An; Jinyeon Hwang; Jung-Hye Seo; Jouhahn Lee; Kye Yeop Kim; Joohee Lee; Seungwu Han; Byung Hee Hong; Ki Tae Nam
• Keywords: Photocathode; Passivation; Photocurrent

Carbon-based catalysts have been attracting attention in renewable energy technologies due to the low cost and high stability, but their insufficient activity is still a challenging issue. Here, we suggest that monolayer graphene can be used as catalyst for solar-driven hydrogen evolution reaction on Si-photocathodes, its catalytic boosted by plasma treatment N2-ambient. The induces abundant defects incorporation of nitrogen atoms structure, which act sites graphene. containing impurities exhibits remarkable increase exchange current density leads significant anodic shift onset photocurrent from Si-photocathode. Additionally, shows passivation effect suppresses surface oxidation Si, thus enabling operation Si-photocathode neutral water. This study itself applied photoelectrochemical system with chemical stability.