Improved Current Collection in WO3:Mo/WO3 Bilayer Photoelectrodes

Nicolas Gaillard, Brian Cole, Jess Kaneshiro, Eric L. Miller, Bjorn Marsen, Lothar Weinhardt, Marcus Bär, Clemens Heske, Kwang Soon Ahn, Fa Yan, Mowafak M. Al-Jassim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus Citations

Abstract

We report on the incorporation of molybdenum into tungsten oxide by co-sputtering and its effect on solar-powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting. Our study shows that Mo incorporation in the bulk of the film (WO3Mo) results in poor PEC performance when compared with pure WO3, most likely due to defects that trap photo-generated charge carriers. However, when a WO3Mo/WO3 bilayer electrode is used, a 20% increase of the photocurrent density at 1.6 V versus saturated calomel reference electrode is observed compared with pure WO3. Morphological and microstructural analysis of the WO3:Mo/WO 3, bilayer structure reveals that it is formed by coherent growth of the WO3:Mo top layer on the WO3 bottom layer. This effect allows an optimization of the electronic surface structure of the electrode while maintaining good crystallographic properties in the bulk.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)45-51
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Materials Research
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-520-47804

Keywords

  • PEC
  • photoelectrochemical
  • water splitting

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