Photoelectrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using Ge doped GaN nanowire photoanodes

Yichen Wang; Bandar AlOtaibi; Faqrul A. Chowdhury; Shizhao Fan; Md G. Kibria; Lu Li; Chao-Jun Li; Zetian Mi

doi:10.1063/1.4935307

APL Materials (Nov 2015)

Photoelectrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide using Ge doped GaN nanowire photoanodes

Yichen Wang,
Bandar AlOtaibi,
Faqrul A. Chowdhury,
Shizhao Fan,
Md G. Kibria,
Lu Li,
Chao-Jun Li,
Zetian Mi

Affiliations

Yichen Wang: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada
Bandar AlOtaibi: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada
Faqrul A. Chowdhury: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada
Shizhao Fan: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada
Md G. Kibria: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada
Lu Li: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada
Chao-Jun Li: Department of Chemistry, McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0B8, Canada
Zetian Mi: Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University, 3480 University Street, Montreal, Quebec H3A 0E9, Canada

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4935307
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3, no. 11
pp. 116106 – 116106-6

Abstract

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We report on the direct conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) in a photoelectrochemical cell consisting of germanium doped gallium nitride nanowire anode and copper (Cu) cathode. Various products including methane (CH4), carbon monoxide (CO), and formic acid (HCOOH) were observed under light illumination. A Faradaic efficiency of ∼10% was measured for HCOOH. Furthermore, this photoelectrochemical system showed enhanced stability for 6 h CO2 reduction reaction on low cost, large area Si substrates.

Published in APL Materials

ISSN: 2166-532X (Online)
Publisher: AIP Publishing LLC
Country of publisher: United States
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Biotechnology; Science: Physics
Website: http://aplmaterials.aip.org

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