Rutile TiO2 as an Anode Material for Water-Splitting Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells

John R. Swierk; Kevin P. Regan; Jianbing Jiang; Gary W. Brudvig; Charles A. Schmuttenmaer

doi:10.1021/acsenergylett.6b00279

Rutile TiO₂ as an Anode Material for Water-Splitting Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells

John R. Swierk, Kevin P. Regan, Jianbing Jiang, Gary W. Brudvig, Charles A. Schmuttenmaer

Yale University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

40 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs) use a wide bandgap metal oxide semiconductor functionalized with a light-absorbing dye and water-oxidation catalyst to harvest light and drive water oxidation, respectively. We demonstrate here that the rutile polymorph of TiO₂ (r-TiO₂) is a promising anode material for WS-DSPECs. Recombination between the injected electron and oxidized sensitizer with r-TiO₂ is an order of magnitude slower than with anatase TiO₂ (a-TiO₂), with injection yields approaching 100%. Studies with a reductive quencher demonstrate that r-TiO₂ is significantly more efficient than a-TiO₂, while exhibiting greater dye stability. Furthermore, comparison of direct band gap excitation photocurrent generation for bare and sensitized r-TiO₂ suggests that the sensitizer functions as a light harvester and redox mediator.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	603-606
Number of pages	4
Journal	ACS Energy Letters
Volume	1
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1021/acsenergylett.6b00279
Publication status	Published - Sep 9 2016

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Chemistry (miscellaneous)
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Fuel Technology
Energy Engineering and Power Technology
Materials Chemistry

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title = "Rutile TiO2 as an Anode Material for Water-Splitting Dye-Sensitized Photoelectrochemical Cells",

abstract = "Water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs) use a wide bandgap metal oxide semiconductor functionalized with a light-absorbing dye and water-oxidation catalyst to harvest light and drive water oxidation, respectively. We demonstrate here that the rutile polymorph of TiO2 (r-TiO2) is a promising anode material for WS-DSPECs. Recombination between the injected electron and oxidized sensitizer with r-TiO2 is an order of magnitude slower than with anatase TiO2 (a-TiO2), with injection yields approaching 100%. Studies with a reductive quencher demonstrate that r-TiO2 is significantly more efficient than a-TiO2, while exhibiting greater dye stability. Furthermore, comparison of direct band gap excitation photocurrent generation for bare and sensitized r-TiO2 suggests that the sensitizer functions as a light harvester and redox mediator.",

author = "Swierk, {John R.} and Regan, {Kevin P.} and Jianbing Jiang and Brudvig, {Gary W.} and Schmuttenmaer, {Charles A.}",

note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Nicholas McCool for helpful discussion during the preparation of this Letter as well as assistance with the atomic layer deposition of Al2O3. This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under award DE-FG02-07ER15909 and by a generous donation from the TomKat Charitable Trust. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2016 American Chemical Society.",

year = "2016",

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AU - Swierk, John R.

AU - Regan, Kevin P.

AU - Jiang, Jianbing

AU - Brudvig, Gary W.

AU - Schmuttenmaer, Charles A.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors thank Nicholas McCool for helpful discussion during the preparation of this Letter as well as assistance with the atomic layer deposition of Al2O3. This work was funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under award DE-FG02-07ER15909 and by a generous donation from the TomKat Charitable Trust. Publisher Copyright: © 2016 American Chemical Society.

PY - 2016/9/9

Y1 - 2016/9/9

N2 - Water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs) use a wide bandgap metal oxide semiconductor functionalized with a light-absorbing dye and water-oxidation catalyst to harvest light and drive water oxidation, respectively. We demonstrate here that the rutile polymorph of TiO2 (r-TiO2) is a promising anode material for WS-DSPECs. Recombination between the injected electron and oxidized sensitizer with r-TiO2 is an order of magnitude slower than with anatase TiO2 (a-TiO2), with injection yields approaching 100%. Studies with a reductive quencher demonstrate that r-TiO2 is significantly more efficient than a-TiO2, while exhibiting greater dye stability. Furthermore, comparison of direct band gap excitation photocurrent generation for bare and sensitized r-TiO2 suggests that the sensitizer functions as a light harvester and redox mediator.

AB - Water-splitting dye-sensitized photoelectrochemical cells (WS-DSPECs) use a wide bandgap metal oxide semiconductor functionalized with a light-absorbing dye and water-oxidation catalyst to harvest light and drive water oxidation, respectively. We demonstrate here that the rutile polymorph of TiO2 (r-TiO2) is a promising anode material for WS-DSPECs. Recombination between the injected electron and oxidized sensitizer with r-TiO2 is an order of magnitude slower than with anatase TiO2 (a-TiO2), with injection yields approaching 100%. Studies with a reductive quencher demonstrate that r-TiO2 is significantly more efficient than a-TiO2, while exhibiting greater dye stability. Furthermore, comparison of direct band gap excitation photocurrent generation for bare and sensitized r-TiO2 suggests that the sensitizer functions as a light harvester and redox mediator.

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