Two-phase model of hydrogen transport to optimize nanoparticle catalyst loading for hydrogen evolution reaction

With electrocatalysts it is important to be able to distinguish between the effects of mass transport and reaction kinetics on the performance of the catalyst. When the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is considered, an additional and often neglected detail of mass transport in liquid is the evolution and transport of gaseous H2, since HER leads to the continuous formation of H2 bubbles near the electrode. We present a numerical model that includes the transport of both gaseous and dissolved H2, as well as mass exchange between them, and combine it with a kinetic model of HER at platinum (Pt) nanoparticle electrodes. We study the effect of the diffusion layer thickness and H2 dissolution rate constant on the importance of gaseous transport, and the effect of equilibrium hydrogen coverage and Pt loading on the kinetic and mass transport overpotentials. Gaseous transport becomes significant when the gas volume fraction is sufficiently high to facilitate H2 transfer to bubbles within a distance shorter than the diffusion layer thickness. At current densities below about 40 mA/cm2 the model reduces to an analytical approximation that has characteristics similar to the diffusion of H2. At higher current densities the increase in the gas volume fraction makes the H2 surface concentration nonlinear with respect to the current density. Compared to the typical diffusion layer model, our model is an extension that allows more detailed studies of reaction kinetics and mass transport in the electrolyte and the effects of gas bubbles on them.Peer reviewe

Strategies for stable water splitting via protected photoelectrodes

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the key aspects of protection strategies for achieving stable solid/liquid interfaces for photoelectrodes.</p

Photoelectrochemical properties of full composition InxGa1-xN/Si photoanodes

Recently InxGa1-xN (x=0-1) thin films and nanostructures have attracted considerable interest in the field of solar assisted water splitting. As a standalone photoelectrode it is very appealing due to its direct, tunable bandgap covering nearly the entire solar spectrum (Fig. 1a), high absorption coefficient and mobility, along with near-perfect band-edge potentials. Moreover, because of the special bands alignment it can be grown on p-Si photocathode and exhibit vertical conductivity without complex tunnel junction. These facts open a possibility to achieve high efficiency, relatively cheap InGaN/Si-based two-photon tandem devices for water splitting

2-Photon tandem device for water splitting:comparing photocathode first versus photoanode first designs

This work analyzes the differences between a ‘photoanode first’ and a ‘photocathode first’ 2-photon water splitting device.</p