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Coupling furfural oxidation for H2 production using silicon photoelectrodes
The authors demonstrate a bias-free dual solar hydrogen production system by pairing low-potential furfural oxidation with a Si photocathode, achieving a 1-sun hydrogen production rate that surpasses the Department of Energy target by over four-fold.
However, OER demands a high thermodynamic potential (1.23 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE)), and its substantial overpotential, attributed to sluggish reaction kinetics, further increases the required photovoltage of the PEC cell beyond 1.6 V 2, 11. 1a, linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) curves of low-potential aldehyde oxidation and HER on a c-Si photocathode can achieve identical current levels at the same potential, indicating the capability for bias-free operation, unlike conventional water splitting. The performance of the c-Si photocathode (1 cm 2) was assessed in a three-electrode configuration from 1.0 to −0.4 V vs. RHE in 1 M NaOH, with illumination from an Oriel Sol3A class AAA solar simulator (Newport) directed onto the glass side.
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