Correlation of photocurrent-voltage curves with flat-band potential for stable photoelectrodes for the photoelectrolysis of water

Jeffrey M. Bolts, Mark S. Wrighton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

307 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using the differential capacitance technique, the flat-band potential of n-type TiO2, SnO2, SrTiO3, KTaO3, and KTa0.77Nb0.23O3 electrodes has been determined as a function of pH in aqueous electrolytes. Plots of flat-band potential vs. pH are linear in all cases and have a slope of ∼0.059 V/pH unit. The flat-band potential correlates nicely with the onset for photoanodic currents corresponding to O2 evolution at the n-type semiconductor and H2 at the dark Pt cathode. The ordering of flat-band potentials at a given pH is SrTiO3 ∼ KTaO3 ∼ KTa0.77Nb0.23O3 > TiO2 > SnO2 (SnO2 most positive vs. SCE).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2641-2645
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry
Volume80
Issue number24
DOIs
StatePublished - 1976

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