Double Perovskite Cobaltites Integrated in a Monolithic and Noble Metal-Free Photoelectrochemical Device for Efficient Water Splitting.

ABSTRACT: Water photoelectrolysis has the potential to produce renewable hydrogen fuel, therefore addressing the intermittent nature of sunlight. Herein, a monolithic, photovoltaic (PV)-assisted water electrolysis device of minimal engineering and of low (in the μg range) noble-metal-free catalysts loading is presented for unassisted water splitting in alkaline media. An efficient double perovskite cobaltite catalyst, originally developed for high-temperature proton-conducting ceramic electrolyzers, possesses high activity for the oxygen evolution reaction in alkaline media at room temperatures too. Ba_1-xGd_1-yLa_x+yCo₂O_6-δ (BGLC) is combined with a NiMo cathode, and a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 6.6% in 1.0 M NaOH, under 1 sun simulated illumination for 71 h, is demonstrated. This work highlights how readily available earth-abundant materials and established PV methods can achieve high performance and stable and monolithic photoelectrolysis devices with potential for full-scale applications.

SUBMITTER: Zhu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8289171 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature