Journal ArticleDOI
Plasmon-enhanced photocatalytic activity of iron oxide on gold nanopillars.
TLDR
In this article, an enhanced photocurrent in a thin-film iron oxide photoanode coated on arrays of Au nanopillars was shown, attributed primarily to the increased optical absorption originating from both surface plasmon resonances and photonic-mode light trapping in the nanostructured topography.Abstract:
Photocatalytic water splitting represents a promising way to produce renewable hydrogen fuel from solar energy. Ultrathin semiconductor electrodes for water splitting are of particular interest because the optical absorption occurs in the region where photogenerated charge carriers can effectively contribute to the chemical reactions on the surface. It is therefore important to manipulate and concentrate the incident light so that more photons can be absorbed within the thin film. Here we show an enhanced photocurrent in a thin-film iron oxide photoanode coated on arrays of Au nanopillars. The enhancement can be attributed primarily to the increased optical absorption originating from both surface plasmon resonances and photonic-mode light trapping in the nanostructured topography. The resonances can be tuned to a desirable wavelength by varying the thickness of the iron oxide layer. A net enhancement as high as 50% was observed over the solar spectrum.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Inorganic nanostructures for photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic water splitting
TL;DR: The current state of research on nanoscale-enhanced photoelectrodes and photocatalysts for the water splitting reaction with special emphasis of Fe(2)O(3) with an outlook on the challenges in solar fuel generation with nanoscales inorganic materials is reviewed.
Journal ArticleDOI
Photoelectrochemical cells for solar hydrogen production: current state of promising photoelectrodes, methods to improve their properties, and outlook
TL;DR: In this article, a review focusing on recent developments of some promising photoelectrode materials, such as BiVO4, a-Fe2O3, TaON, and Ta3N5 for solar hydrogen production is presented.
Journal ArticleDOI
Semiconductor-based photocatalysts and photoelectrochemical cells for solar fuel generation: a review
Jiangtian Li,Nianqiang Wu +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors describe the barrier, progress and future direction of research on the correlation of the chemical constituent, size, dimensionality, architecture, crystal structure, microstructure and electronic band structure of photocatalysts (or photoelectrodes) with five vital processes including light absorption, charge separation, migration and recombination as well as surface redox reactions.
Journal ArticleDOI
Au Nanostructure-Decorated TiO2 Nanowires Exhibiting Photoactivity Across Entire UV-visible Region for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Ying-Chih Pu,Gongming Wang,Kao Der Chang,Yichuan Ling,Yin Kai Lin,Bob C. Fitzmorris,Chia Ming Liu,Xihong Lu,Yexiang Tong,Jin Z. Zhang,Yung-Jung Hsu,Yat Li +11 more
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that the photoactivity of Au-decorated TiO2 electrodes for photoelectrochemical water oxidation can be effectively enhanced in the entire UV-visible region from 300 to 800 nm by manipulating the shape of the decorated Au nanostructures by exploiting surface plasmon resonance of Au.
Journal ArticleDOI
Quantum Dot Solar Cells. The Next Big Thing in Photovoltaics.
TL;DR: The recent advances as well as future prospects of quantum dot solar cells discussed in this perspective provide the basis for consideration as "The Next Big Thing" in photovoltaics.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Electrochemical Photolysis of Water at a Semiconductor Electrode
Akira Fujishima,Kenichi Honda +1 more
TL;DR: Water photolysis is investigated by exploiting the fact that water is transparent to visible light and cannot be decomposed directly, but only by radiation with wavelengths shorter than 190 nm.
Journal Article
Photoelectrochemical cells : Materials for clean energy
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors look into the historical background, and present status and development prospects for photoelectrochemical cells, based on nanocrystalline materials and conducting polymer films.
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Solar Water Splitting Cells
Michael G. Walter,Emily L. Warren,James R. McKone,Shannon W. Boettcher,Qixi Mi,Elizabeth A. Santori,Nathan S. Lewis +6 more
TL;DR: The biggest challenge is whether or not the goals need to be met to fully utilize solar energy for the global energy demand can be met in a costeffective way on the terawatt scale.
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Plasmonics: Fundamentals and Applications
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss the role of surface plasmon polaritons at metal/insulator interfaces and their application in the propagation of surfaceplasmon waveguides.
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Surface Plasmons on Smooth and Rough Surfaces and on Gratings
TL;DR: In this article, surface plasmons on smooth surfaces were used for light scattering at rough surfaces without an ATR device, and surface plasmon on gratings for enhanced roughness.
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