jz5b01598_si_001.pdf (861.8 kB)
Piezotronic-Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Reactions in Ni(OH)2‑Decorated ZnO Photoanodes
journal contribution
posted on 2015-12-17, 09:27 authored by Hongxia Li, Yanhao Yu, Matthew B. Starr, Zhaodong Li, Xudong WangControlling the interface electronic
band structure in heterostructures
is essential for developing highly efficient photoelectrochemical
(PEC) photoanodes. Here, we presented an enhanced oxygen evolution
reaction (OER) by introducing the piezotronics concept, i.e., piezoelectric
polarization (Ppz)-induced band engineering.
In a Ni(OH)2-decorated ZnO photoanode system, appreciably
improved photocurrent density of sulfite (SO32–) and hydroxyl (OH–) oxidation reactions were obtained
by physically deflecting the photoanode. Both theoretical and experimental
results suggested that the performance enhancement was a result of
the piezoelectric Ppz-endowed enlargement
of the built-in electric field at the ZnO/Ni(OH)2 interface,
which could drive an additional amount of photoexcited charges from
ZnO toward the interface for OER. This strategy demonstrates a new
route for improving the performance of inexpensive catalysts-based
solar-to-fuel production.