Nature Communications (Sep 2023)

Monolithic FAPbBr3 photoanode for photoelectrochemical water oxidation with low onset-potential and enhanced stability

  • Hao Yang,
  • Yawen Liu,
  • Yunxuan Ding,
  • Fusheng Li,
  • Linqin Wang,
  • Bin Cai,
  • Fuguo Zhang,
  • Tianqi Liu,
  • Gerrit Boschloo,
  • Erik M. J. Johansson,
  • Licheng Sun

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-41187-9
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 1
pp. 1 – 13

Abstract

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Abstract Despite considerable research efforts on photoelectrochemical water splitting over the past decades, practical application faces challenges by the absence of efficient, stable, and scalable photoelectrodes. Herein, we report a metal-halide perovskite-based photoanode for photoelectrochemical water oxidation. With a planar structure using mesoporous carbon as a hole-conducting layer, the precious metal-free FAPbBr3 photovoltaic device achieves 9.2% solar-to-electrical power conversion efficiency and 1.4 V open-circuit voltage. The photovoltaic architecture successfully applies to build a monolithic photoanode with the FAPbBr3 absorber, carbon/graphite conductive protection layers, and NiFe catalyst layers for water oxidation. The photoanode delivers ultralow onset potential below 0 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode and high applied bias photon-to-current efficiency of 8.5%. Stable operation exceeding 100 h under solar illumination by applying ultraviolet-filter protection. The photothermal investigation verifies the performance boost in perovskite photoanode by photothermal effect. This study is significant in guiding the development of photovoltaic material-based photoelectrodes for solar fuel applications.