Using SEAL and HARPOON to Find Potential Water Splitting Oxide Semiconductor Electrodes

Abstract

The search for suitable electrodes for photoelectrochemical water splitting extends across the periodic table. While III-V semiconductors exhibit superior light gathering properties, metal oxide semiconductors generally cost less and are more robust. The Solar Energy Activity Laboratory (SEAL) and the Heterogeneous Anodes Rapidly Perused for Oxygen Overpotential Neutralization (HARPOON) are simple experiments that can quickly scan for suitable oxide semiconductors. The SEAL experiment measures photocurrent, and the HARPOON experiment measures oxygen production efficiency. An evaporative spotting procedure is used to prepare FTO plates with the desired metal oxide combinations. Plates made of oxides of Pd, Ru, Fe, In, and Ni were produced in our laboratory and evaluated using the SEAL and HARPOON experiments. This presentation will communicate the results for three plates.