Welcome to the new version of CaltechAUTHORS. Login is currently restricted to library staff. If you notice any issues, please email coda@library.caltech.edu
Published February 14, 2015 | Published
Journal Article Open

Identification of optimal solar fuel electrocatalysts via high throughput in situ optical measurements

Abstract

Many solar fuel generator designs involve illumination of a photoabsorber stack coated with a catalyst for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this design, impinging light must pass through the catalyst layer before reaching the photoabsorber(s), and thus optical transmission is an important function of the OER catalyst layer. Many oxide catalysts, such as those containing elements Ni and Co, form oxide or oxyhydroxide phases in alkaline solution at operational potentials that differ from the phases observed in ambient conditions. To characterize the transparency of such catalysts during OER operation, 1031 unique compositions containing the elements Ni, Co, Ce, La, and Fe were prepared by a high throughput inkjet printing technique. The catalytic current of each composition was recorded at an OER overpotential of 0.33 V with simultaneous measurement of the spectral transmission. By combining the optical and catalytic properties, the combined catalyst efficiency was calculated to identify the optimal catalysts for solar fuel applications within the material library. The measurements required development of a new high throughput instrument with integrated electrochemistry and spectroscopy measurements, which enables various spectroelectrochemistry experiments.

Additional Information

© 2014 Materials Research Society. Received 26 July 2014; accepted 25 September 2014. This manuscript is based upon work performed by the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub, supported through the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (Award No. DE-SC0004993). The authors thank Ryan R.J. Jones for assistance with preparation of graphics.

Attached Files

Published - _JMR_JMR30_03_S0884291414002969a.pdf

Files

_JMR_JMR30_03_S0884291414002969a.pdf
Files (525.7 kB)
Name Size Download all
md5:95c2dddd0af1d797df4b8e0e187de14d
525.7 kB Preview Download

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023