Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene Photoelectrodes

Abstract We investigate the flat band voltage (VFB) of silicon (Si) surfaces functionalized with methyl (Me), 9‐anthracene (Anth), 1,8‐anthracene (DiAnth; two attachment points), and 9‐bianthracene (BiAnth) on n‐type and p‐type Si substrates. Flat band potential (EFB, by Mott‐Schottky) provided VFB...

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Main Authors: Hark Jin Kim, Michael J. Rose
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley-VCH 2024-12-01
Series:ChemElectroChem
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400468
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author Hark Jin Kim
Michael J. Rose
author_facet Hark Jin Kim
Michael J. Rose
author_sort Hark Jin Kim
collection DOAJ
description Abstract We investigate the flat band voltage (VFB) of silicon (Si) surfaces functionalized with methyl (Me), 9‐anthracene (Anth), 1,8‐anthracene (DiAnth; two attachment points), and 9‐bianthracene (BiAnth) on n‐type and p‐type Si substrates. Flat band potential (EFB, by Mott‐Schottky) provided VFB (or VBI) dependent on the contacted redox couple (ERedox). On p‐type Si, VFB increased linearly until a limiting value was reached; similarly, the n‐type Si VFB decreased linearly until it plateaued at more negative potentials. Notably, the slope of VFB depended on the surface modifier, exhibiting opposite trends for p‐type and n‐type Si. Curiously, anthracene‐functionalized p‐Si exhibited an unexpectedly more shallow (and beneficial) slope than ‐methyl, attributed to the polarizability of the anthracene π electron cloud and a potential drop across the molecular interface. On n‐type Si, anthracene‐functionalized surfaces displayed a higher slope than ‐methyl, suggesting a gradual cancellation of the voltage shift effect due to a fixed surface dipole. We also quantified the interfacial potential drop across p‐Si–Anth as 275 mV using variable frequency (10 kHz vs 1 kHz) Mott‐Schottky analysis. The interfacial potential drop and dipoles that result from molecular functionalization are thus critical design parameters for PEC cells that utilize moderate‐potential redox couples or reactions; however, such effects are negligible with redox couples that reside at or beyond the semiconductor band‐edge.
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spelling doaj-art-87dbe13a35dc481f8e29bdaae676c0282024-12-16T08:33:20ZengWiley-VCHChemElectroChem2196-02162024-12-011124n/an/a10.1002/celc.202400468Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene PhotoelectrodesHark Jin Kim0Michael J. Rose1Department of Chemistry The University of Texas at Austin 105E 24th St. Austin TX 78712 United StatesDepartment of Chemistry The University of Texas at Austin 105E 24th St. Austin TX 78712 United StatesAbstract We investigate the flat band voltage (VFB) of silicon (Si) surfaces functionalized with methyl (Me), 9‐anthracene (Anth), 1,8‐anthracene (DiAnth; two attachment points), and 9‐bianthracene (BiAnth) on n‐type and p‐type Si substrates. Flat band potential (EFB, by Mott‐Schottky) provided VFB (or VBI) dependent on the contacted redox couple (ERedox). On p‐type Si, VFB increased linearly until a limiting value was reached; similarly, the n‐type Si VFB decreased linearly until it plateaued at more negative potentials. Notably, the slope of VFB depended on the surface modifier, exhibiting opposite trends for p‐type and n‐type Si. Curiously, anthracene‐functionalized p‐Si exhibited an unexpectedly more shallow (and beneficial) slope than ‐methyl, attributed to the polarizability of the anthracene π electron cloud and a potential drop across the molecular interface. On n‐type Si, anthracene‐functionalized surfaces displayed a higher slope than ‐methyl, suggesting a gradual cancellation of the voltage shift effect due to a fixed surface dipole. We also quantified the interfacial potential drop across p‐Si–Anth as 275 mV using variable frequency (10 kHz vs 1 kHz) Mott‐Schottky analysis. The interfacial potential drop and dipoles that result from molecular functionalization are thus critical design parameters for PEC cells that utilize moderate‐potential redox couples or reactions; however, such effects are negligible with redox couples that reside at or beyond the semiconductor band‐edge.https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400468Surface dipolesBand bendingPotential dropSemiconductor-liquid interface
spellingShingle Hark Jin Kim
Michael J. Rose
Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene Photoelectrodes
ChemElectroChem
Surface dipoles
Band bending
Potential drop
Semiconductor-liquid interface
title Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene Photoelectrodes
title_full Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene Photoelectrodes
title_fullStr Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene Photoelectrodes
title_full_unstemmed Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene Photoelectrodes
title_short Role of Interfacial Potential Drops on Redox‐Couple Dependent Voltages Using Hybridized Si(111)–(Bis)Anthracene Photoelectrodes
title_sort role of interfacial potential drops on redox couple dependent voltages using hybridized si 111 bis anthracene photoelectrodes
topic Surface dipoles
Band bending
Potential drop
Semiconductor-liquid interface
url https://doi.org/10.1002/celc.202400468
work_keys_str_mv AT harkjinkim roleofinterfacialpotentialdropsonredoxcoupledependentvoltagesusinghybridizedsi111bisanthracenephotoelectrodes
AT michaeljrose roleofinterfacialpotentialdropsonredoxcoupledependentvoltagesusinghybridizedsi111bisanthracenephotoelectrodes