Issue 4, 2015

Carrier dynamics of a visible-light-responsive Ta3N5 photoanode for water oxidation

Abstract

The physicochemical properties of a tantalum nitride (Ta3N5) photoanode were investigated in detail to understand the fundamental aspects associated with the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water oxidation. The Ta3N5 thin films were synthesized using DC magnetron sputtering followed by annealing in air and nitridation under ammonia (NH3). A polycrystalline structure with a dense morphology of the monoclinic Ta3N5 films was obtained. A relatively low absorption coefficient (104 to 105 cm−1) in the visible light range was measured for Ta3N5, consistent with the nature of the indirect band-gap. Ultra-fast spectroscopic measurements revealed that the Ta3N5 with different thicknesses films possess low transport properties and fast carrier recombination (<10 ps). These critical kinetic properties of Ta3N5 as a photoanode may necessitate high overpotentials to achieve appreciable photocurrents for water oxidation (onset ∼0.6 V vs. RHE).

Graphical abstract: Carrier dynamics of a visible-light-responsive Ta3N5 photoanode for water oxidation

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
15 Sep 2014
Accepted
04 Dec 2014
First published
05 Dec 2014

Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015,17, 2670-2677

Author version available

Carrier dynamics of a visible-light-responsive Ta3N5 photoanode for water oxidation

A. Ziani, E. Nurlaela, D. S. Dhawale, D. A. Silva, E. Alarousu, O. F. Mohammed and K. Takanabe, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2015, 17, 2670 DOI: 10.1039/C4CP05616G

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