Repository logo

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne

Infoscience

  • English
  • French
Log In
  1. Home
  2. Academic and Research Output
  3. Journal articles
  4. A halted photodeposition technique controls co-catalyst loading and morphology on organic semiconductor nanoparticles for solar H 2 production
 
research article

A halted photodeposition technique controls co-catalyst loading and morphology on organic semiconductor nanoparticles for solar H 2 production

Firth, Connor Robert  
•
Jeanguenat, Colin  
•
Lutz-Bueno, Viviane
Show more
November 20, 2024
Advanced Energy Materials

Solar hydrogen production with semiconductor photocatalyst particles typically requires co-catalysts to accelerate the hydrogen evolution reaction, but since co-catalysts are often deposited in situ, the rate of their nucleation/growth and role in parasitic light absorption are not well controlled. Herein we introduce a halted photodeposition-dialysis method that affords unprecedented control over platinum (Pt) co-catalyst loading and morphology on bulk heterojunction organic semiconductor photocatalyst nanoparticles. Pt loading and surface distribution are controlled by tuning the initial Pt precursor concentration and photodeposition time followed by removal of unreacted Pt precursor via dialysis. Applying this method with typical Pt deposition conditions gave a max H 2 evolution rate of 140 mmol h −1 g −1 (based on semiconductor mass) with only 15.2 wt % Pt as measured by ICP-MS and suggested an optimum loading of < 20 wt % Pt, above which parasitic light absorption decreases the H 2 evolution rate. Moreover, a peak H 2 evolution >30 mmol h −1 g −1 is achieved with a Pt loading of only 1.01 wt % by tuning the deposition conditions to favor a more uniform Pt coverage with small clusters and single atoms over larger Pt NPs. Representing a performance more than 8 times higher compared to typical Pt photodeposition (based on Pt) and giving critical insights into optimizing performance for solar driven H 2 production.

  • Files
  • Details
  • Metrics
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name

Firth_halted_final+SI_autthoraccepted.pdf

Type

Main Document

Version

http://purl.org/coar/version/c_ab4af688f83e57aa

Access type

embargo

Embargo End Date

2025-05-20

License Condition

N/A

Size

3.08 MB

Format

Adobe PDF

Checksum (MD5)

0788e1ced919aa4e21e9b0af49b2ceac

Logo EPFL, École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
  • Contact
  • infoscience@epfl.ch

  • Follow us on Facebook
  • Follow us on Instagram
  • Follow us on LinkedIn
  • Follow us on X
  • Follow us on Youtube
AccessibilityLegal noticePrivacy policyCookie settingsEnd User AgreementGet helpFeedback

Infoscience is a service managed and provided by the Library and IT Services of EPFL. © EPFL, tous droits réservés