A H2-evolving photocathode based on direct sensitization of MoS3 with an organic photovoltaic cell

Tiphaine Bourgeteau (1) , Denis Tondelier (2) , Bernard Geffroy (1) , Romain Brisse (1) , Christel Laberty-Robert (3) , Stéphane Campidelli (4) , Rémi de Bettignies (5) , Vincent Artero (6) , Serge Palacin (1) , Bruno Jousselme (1)

1 LCSI - Laboratoire de Chimie des Surfaces et Interfaces
2 LPICM - Laboratoire de physique des interfaces et des couches minces [Palaiseau]
3 LCMCP (site Paris VI) - Laboratoire de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Paris (site Paris VI)
4 LISO - Laboratoire Interfaces et Surfaces d'Oxydes
5 LCS - Laboratoire Composants Solaires
6 LCBM - UMR 5249 - Laboratoire de Chimie et Biologie des Métaux

An organic solar cell based on a poly-3-hexylthiophene (P3HT):phenyl-C61-butyric acid (PCBM) bulk hetero-junction was directly coupled to molybdenum sulfide resulting in the design of a new type of photocathode for the production of hydrogen. Both the light-harvesting system and the catalyst were deposited by low-cost solution-processed methods, i.e. spin coating and spray coating respectively. Spray-coated MoS3 films are catalytically active in strongly acidic aqueous solutions with the best efficiencies for thicknesses of 40 to 90 nm. The photocathodes display photocurrents higher than reference samples, without a catalyst or without coupling with a solar cell. Gas chromatography analysis confirms the light-induced hydrogen evolution. The addition of titanium dioxide in the MoS3 film enhances electron transport and collection within thick films and therefore the performance of the photocathode

Domains: Material chemistry

Tiphaine Bourgeteau, Denis Tondelier, Bernard Geffroy, Romain Brisse, Christel Laberty-Robert, et al.. A H2-evolving photocathode based on direct sensitization of MoS3 with an organic photovoltaic cell. Energy & Environmental Science, 2013, 6, pp.2706-2713. ⟨10.1039/c3ee41321g⟩. ⟨cea-00959298⟩