Optically and Electrocatalytically Decoupled Si Photocathodes with a Porous Carbon Nitride Catalyst for Nitrogen Reduction with Over 61.8% Faradaic Efficiency

Abstract

The photoelectrochemical (PEC) approach is attractive as a promising route for the nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) toward ammonia (NH₃ ) synthesis. However, the challenges in synergistic management of optical, electrical, and catalytic properties have limited the efficiency of PEC NRR devices. Herein, to enhance light-harvesting, carrier separation/transport, and the catalytic reactions, a concept of decoupling light-harvesting and electrocatalysis by employing a cascade n⁺ np⁺ -Si photocathode is implemented. Such a decoupling design not only abolishes the parasitic light blocking but also concurrently improves the optical and electrical properties of the n⁺ np⁺ -Si photocathode without compromising the efficiency. Experimental and density functional theory studies reveal that the porous architecture and N-vacancies promote N₂ adsorption of the Au/porous carbon nitride (PCN) catalyst. Impressively, an n⁺ np⁺ -Si photocathode integrating the Au/PCN catalyst exhibits an outstanding PEC NRR performance with maximum Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 61.8% and NH₃ production yield of 13.8 µg h^-1 cm^-2 at -0.10 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), which is the highest FE at low applied potential ever reported for the PEC NRR.

Keywords: decoupling light-harvesting and electrocatalysis; nitrogen reduction; photoelectrochemical; porous carbon nitride.