Inner Layer Control of Performance in a Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrosynthesis Cell

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2017 Oct 4;9(39):33533-33538. doi: 10.1021/acsami.7b00225. Epub 2017 Mar 2.

Abstract

Interfacial charge transfer and core-shell structures play important roles in dye-sensitized photoelectrosynthesis cells (DSPEC) for water splitting into H2 and O2. An important element in the design of the photoanode in these devices is a core/shell structure which controls local electron transfer dynamics. Here, we introduce a new element, an internal layer of Al2O3 lying between the Sb:SnO2/TiO2 layers in a core/shell electrode which can improve photocurrents by up to 300%. In these structures, the results of photocurrent, transient absorption, and linear scan voltammetry measurements point to an important role for the Al2O3 layer in controlling internal electron transfer within the core/shell structure.

Keywords: atomic layer deposition; core−shell; dye-sensitized photoelectron transfer synthesis cell; pinholes.