Few-layer MoS2 flakes as hole-selective layer for solution-processed hybrid organic hydrogen-evolving photocathodes

TL;DR

This study introduces MoS2 nano-flakes as a stable, hole-selective layer in organic photocathodes, significantly enhancing water-splitting efficiency and operational stability for solar hydrogen production.

Contribution

It demonstrates the use of Li-exfoliated, p-doped MoS2 flakes as an effective hole-selective layer in organic photocathodes, improving performance and stability over previous materials.

Findings

Photocurrent of 1.21 mA/cm² at 0 V vs. RHE

Positive onset potential of 0.56 V vs. RHE

Operational stability with stabilized photocurrent over time

Abstract

High-efficiency organic photocathodes, based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) and phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (rr-P3HT:PCBM) bulk heterojunction sandwiched between charge-selective layers, are emerging as efficient and low-cost devices for solar hydrogen production by water splitting. Nevertheless, stability issues of the materials used as charge-selective layers are hampering the realization of long-lasting photoelectrodes, pointing out the need to investigate novel and stable materials. Here, we propose MoS2 nano-flakes, produced by Li-aided exfoliation of bulk counterpart, as efficient atomic-thick hole-selective layer for rr-P3HT:PCBM-based photocathodes. We carried out a p-type chemical doping to tune on-demand the MoS2 Fermi level in order to match the highest occupied molecular orbital level of the rr-P3HT, thus easing the hole collection at the electrode. The as-prepared p-doped MoS2-based photocathodes reached a photocurrent of 1.21 mA cm-2 at 0 V vs. RHE, a positive onset potential of 0.56 V vs. RHE and a power-saved figure of merit of 0.43%, showing a 6.1-fold increase with respect to pristine MoS2-based photocathodes, under simulated 1 Sun illumination. Operational activity of the photocathodes over time and under 1 Sun illumination revealed a progressive stabilization of the photocurrents at 0.49 mA cm-2 at 0 V vs. RHE. These results pave the way towards the exploitation of layered crystals as efficiency-boosters for scalable hybrid organic H2-evolving photoelectrochemical cells.