Unbiased photoelectrochemical hydrogen production with high efficiency and durability is highly desired for solar energy storage. Here, we report a microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system that demonstrated superior performance when equipped with bioanodes and black silicon photocathode with a unique “Swiss-cheese” interface. The MPEC utilizes the chemical energy embedded in wastewater organics to boost solar H 2 production, which overcomes barriers on anode H 2 O oxidation. Without any bias, the MPEC generates a record photocurrent (up to 23 mA cm −2 ) and retains prolonged stability for over 90 hours with high Faradaic efficiency (96–99%). The calculated turnover number for MoS x catalyst during a 90 h period is 495 471 with an average frequency of 1.53 s −1 . The system replaced pure water on the anode with actual wastewater and achieved waste organic removal up to 16 kg COD m −2 photocathode per day. Cost credits from concurrent wastewater treatment and low-cost design make photoelectrochemical H 2 production practical for the first time.
Probing the electronic properties of the electrified silicon/water interface by combining simulations and experiments
Silicon (Si) is broadly used in electrochemical and photoelectrochemical devices, where the capacitive and Faradaic reactions at the Si/water interfaces are critical for signal transduction or noise generation. However, probing the electrified Si/water interface at the microscopic level remains a challenging task. Here we focus on hydrogenated Si surfaces in contact with water, relevant to transient electronics and photoelectrochemical modulation of biological cells and tissues. We show that by carrying out first-principles molecular dynamics simulations of the Si(100)/water interface in the presence of an electric field we can realistically correlate the computed flat-band potential and tunneling current images at the interface with experimentally measured capacitive and Faradaic currents. Specifically, we validate our simulations in the presence of bias by performing pulsed chronoamperometry measurements on Si wafers in solution. Consistent with prior experiments, our measurements and simulations indicate the presence of voltage-dependent capacitive currents at the interface. We also find that Faradaic currents are weakly dependent on the applied bias, which we relate to surface defects present in newly prepared samples.
- Award ID(s):
- 2011854
- Publication Date:
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10307114
- Journal Name:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Volume:
- 118
- Issue:
- 46
- Page Range or eLocation-ID:
- Article No. e2114929118
- ISSN:
- 0027-8424
- Publisher:
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Unbiased photoelectrochemical hydrogen production with high efficiency and durability is highly desired for solar energy storage. Here, we report a microbial photoelectrochemical (MPEC) system that demonstrated superior performance when equipped with bioanodes and black silicon photocathode with a unique ‘‘Swiss-cheese’’ interface. The MPEC utilizes the chemical energy embedded in wastewater organics to boost solar H2 production, which overcomes barriers on anode H2O oxidation. Without any bias, the MPEC generates a record photocurrent (up to 23 mA cm2) and retains prolonged stability for over 90 hours with high Faradaic efficiency (96–99%). The calculated turnover number for MoSx catalyst during a 90 h period is 495 471 with an average frequency of 1.53 s1 . The system replaced pure water on the anode with actual wastewater and achieved waste organic removal up to 16 kg COD m2 photocathode per day. Cost credits from concurrent wastewater treatment and low-cost design make photoelectrochemical H2 production practical for the first time
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