Novel thin film composites and co-catalysts for visible light-induced water splitting

在本提案的框架内，我们申请资助研究和开发用于水分解的新型和有前途的光电催化薄膜复合系统。我们的复合系统的独特特点是(i)开发了TaON-， Ba3Ta5O15-和bivo4基非均质薄膜作为光阳极，具有可调的带隙能量，能带能级和电导率，（ii）适应器件级黄铜矿基薄膜和硅-也与串联太阳能电池结合-作为新型复合光电阴极和复合光电阳极。（iii）开发新的电催化剂以改善HER（析氢）和OER（析氧），以及（iv）通过超薄化学稳定的碳质层进行表面钝化以避免光腐蚀并提高长期稳定性。有了这些复合材料，我们设想开发新的半电池组合到一个新的测试设备组件，使用我们最有效的光电极，以实现可见光驱动的水分解。

Within the framework of this proposal we apply for funding of research and development of novel and promising photoelectrocatalytic thin film composite systems for water splitting. The unique characteristics of our composite systems are (i) development of TaON-, Ba3Ta5O15-, and BiVO4-based heterogeneous thin films as photoanodes with adjustable band gap energies, band-energy levels and conductivities, (ii) adaptation of device-grade chalcopyrite-based thin films and silicon - also in combination with tandem solar cells - as novel composite photocathodes and Composite photoanodes, (iii) development of new electrocatalysts for improvement of HER (hydrogen evolution) and OER (oxygen evolution), and (iv) surface passivation by ultrathin chemically stable carbonaceous layers to avoid photocorrosion and to improve long-term stability. With these composite materials we envisage the development of new half-cells combined to a novel test device assembly using our most efficient photoelectrodes for the purpose of visible light-driven water splitting.