Photochemical deposition of cobalt-based oxygen evolving catalyst on a semiconductor photoanode for solar oxygen production.

ABSTRACT: This study describes the photochemical deposition of Co-based oxygen evolution catalysts on a semiconductor photoanode for use in solar oxygen evolution. In the photodeposition process, electron-hole pairs are generated in a semiconductor upon illumination and the photogenerated holes are used to oxidize Co(2+) ions to Co(3+) ions, resulting in the precipitation of Co(3+)-based catalysts on the semiconductor surface. Both photodeposition of the catalyst and solar O(2) evolution are photo-oxidation reactions using the photogenerated holes. Therefore, photodeposition provides an efficient way to couple oxygen evolution catalysts with photoanodes by naturally placing catalysts at the locations where the holes are most readily available for solar O(2) evolution. In this study Co-based catalyst

SUBMITTER: Steinmiller EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2791623 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature