Photoelectrochemical Properties of GaN Photoanodes with Cobalt Phosphate Catalyst for Solar Water Splitting in Neutral Electrolyte

Cyclic voltammetry measurements are carried out in neutral phosphate-buffered electrolyte using n-type Ga-polar GaN thin-film photoelectrodes with and without cobalt phosphate (Co-Pi) modification. Without Co-Pi, the variation of the photocurrent with the bias potential exhibits a two-step behavior and under chopped illumination spikes occur at low bias potential. Thus in this regime surface recombination is dominant. Co-Pi modification suppresses surface recombination and significantly increases the photocurrent, especially for low bias potentials. At the same time, stability tests reveal that Co-Pi does not protect GaN against photocorrosion. Experiments using H₂O₂ imply that this photocorrosion is a reductive process and probably related to the presence of charged surface defects. (Graph Presented). © 2017 American Chemical Society.