Nanostructured Electrodes for Photochemical Hydrogen Generation

Abstract

LANL developed nano-technologies for high surface area transition metal nanofoam [1] synthesis and polymer-assisted deposition (PAD) [2] of semiconductors are being applied to the synthesis of nanostructured electrodes with the ultimate goal of their use as photocathodes. The resulting material will benefit from high surface areas over macroscopic dimensions, increased permeability for access of the electrolyte to the catalytic sites and a reduction of required carrier diffusion distances afforded by the nanostructure of the material. The versatility provided by the PAD technique in accessing mixed stoichiometry nitride, oxide and selenide semiconducting systems as well as bare noble metal coatings will allow for a systematic investigation of these materials and their stoichiometry in order to increase the efficiency of the final hydrogen generating system. Structural and photo-electrochemical data of the foams and coated structures have yielded promising results towards this final goal.