Efficient photoselectrochemical hydrogen production utilizing of APbI3 (A = Na, Cs, and Li) perovskites nanorods

• Published in: International journal of energy research Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 7436 - 7446
• Main Authors: Shaban, Mohamed, Rabia, Mohamed, Eldakrory, Mahmoud G., Maree, Ragab M., Ahmed, Ashour M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.04.2021; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Absorption; Current efficiency; Electromagnetic absorption; Hexagonal phase; Hydrogen production; Hydrothermal production; hydrothermal technique; Light absorption; Morphology; Nanorods; Optical properties; perovskite nanomaterials; Perovskites; Scanning electron microscopy; Sodium thiosulfate; Stability; Water splitting
• ISSN: 0363-907X; 1099-114X
• DOI: 10.1002/er.6326

Summary This study investigated the structural, morphological, and optical absorption of three separate perovskites (NaPbI3, CsPbI3, and LiPbI3) developed by a low‐cost and massive hydrothermal production technique. For all samples, X‐ray diffraction (XRD) measurement demonstrated the growth of perovskites in the hexagonal phase along (002) orientation. From the scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses, the perovskites have mixed morphologies between nano/micro rods and nano/microdiscs. In the visible field, NaPbI3 demonstrated stronger light absorption than CsPbI3 and LiPbI3. The prepared perovskites were tested under visible light as working electrodes for water splitting reactions using Na2S2O3 electrolyte. With 2.76% at 405 nm, the NaPbI3 perovskite photoelectrode in accordance with its optical properties showed the highest incident photon‐to‐current efficiency (IPCE) among the studied perovskites. Also, the NaPbI3 perovskite demonstrated higher PEC performance with an H2 production rate of 38 μmolh−1 cm−2 than many other reported perovskites. The studied perovskites have high stability and reproductivity for the photoelectrochemical H2 production. Fabrication of three novel perovskites (NaPbI3, CsPbI3, and LiPbI3) by a simple hydrothermal method. The perovskites have mixed morphologies between nano/microrods and nano/microdiscs. The NaPbI3 perovskite photoelectrode exhibited a higher incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 2.76% at 405 nm.