Yuriy Pihosh

Efficient photocatalytic water splitting requires effective generation, separation and transfer of photo-induced charge carriers that can hardly be achieved simultaneously in a single material. Here we show that the effectiveness of each process can be separately maximized in a nanostructured heterojunction with extremely thin absorber layer. We demonstrate this concept on WO3/BiVO4+CoPi core-shell nanostructured photoanode that achieves near theoretical water splitting efficiency. BiVO4 is char

Nanostructured photoanodes based on well-separated and vertically oriented WO3 nanorods capped with extremely thin BiVO4 absorber layers are fabricated by the combination of Glancing Angle Deposition and normal physical sputtering techniques. The optimized WO3 -NRs/BiVO4 photoanode modified with Co-Pi oxygen evolution co-catalyst shows remarkably stable photocurrents of 3.2 and 5.1 mA/cm(2) at 1.23 V versus a reversible hydrogen electrode in a stable Na2 SO4 electrolyte under simulated solar lig

Well-aligned polycrystalline Ta₃N₅-NRs provide enhanced light harvesting and efficient generation and extraction of charge carriers, leading to completely saturated photocurrent.

Heterostructure-based photoanodes have been investigated to enhance light absorption and promote the generation and extraction of charge carriers for efficient solar-to-hydrogen energy conversion. Oxy(nitride) semiconducting materials are promising candidates to harvest the visible solar spectrum; however, the realization of stable and efficient oxy(nitride) heterostructure-based photoanodes remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate a core–shell heterojunction photoanode of Ta3N5-nanorods/BaTaO2

Detailed numerical simulations are performed to probe performance loss mechanisms and limiting parameters of Ta₃N₅-NRs based photoanodes. Device modelling enables the development of design strategies to realize efficient solar water oxidation.

Abstract Designing photoanode semiconducting materials with visible‐light absorption and minimal charge‐carrier recombination for achieving efficient solar‐to‐hydrogen (STH) conversion is challenging. Here, hybrid Ta 3 N 5 nanorods and thin films are developed on transparent GaN/Al 2 O 3 substrates. A Ta 3 N 5 photoanode with a loaded cocatalyst achieves the best current density, i.e. 10.8 mA cm −2 , at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode under simulated AM 1.5G solar illumination. I

High-performance solar-water-splitting technologies are of paramount interest for the cost-effective generation of hydrogen fuel; however, their realization is majorly limited by the poor solar light absorption and charge separation inside photoanode semiconductors. Herein, we develop photoanodes made from polycrystalline tantalum nitride nanorods (Ta3N5 NRs) to overcome the above-mentioned challenges. The morphology and crystalline properties of Ta3N5 NRs are optimized by tuning essential param

Structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of various nanostructures prepared by glancing angle deposition (GLAD) and by electrochemical anodic oxidation of Ti have been studied. The nanorods were prepared on unheated glass substrates by using reactive sputtering of Ti in the GLAD regime. nanotubes and brush-type nanostructures were fabricated by anodic oxidation of flat Ti films and Ti nanorods prepared by GLAD, respectively. The optical studies revealed that the nanotubes and brush-typ

The development of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high-energy densities faces challenges to meet the ever-growing market demands. Tungsten oxide (WO3) with high theoretical capacity and low cost is a potential replacement for conventional graphite anodes, whose low reversible capacity limits the energy densities of existing LIBs. However, large volumetric changes during the cycling result in the degradation of WO3-based electrodes. Hence, we integrated an anode based on vertically aligned WO3

Autonomous micro/nano mechanical, chemical, and biomedical sensors require persistent power sources scaled to their size. Realization of autonomous micro-power sources is a challenging task, as it requires combination of wireless energy supply, conversion, storage, and delivery to the sensor. Herein, we realized a solar-light-driven power source that consists of a micro fuel cell (μFC) and a photocatalytic micro fuel generator (μFG) integrated on a single microfluidic chip. The μFG produces hydr

We demonstrate a new approach to plasmonic enhanced photocatalytic water splitting by developing a novel core-shell Ti@TiO2 brush nanostructure where an elongated Ti nanorod forms a plasmonic core that concentrates light inside of a nanotubular anodic TiO2 shell. Following the ubiquitous element approach aimed at providing an enhanced device functionality without the usage of noble or rare earth elements, we utilized only inexpensive Ti to create a complex Ti@TiO2 nanostructure with an enhanced