Atomic layer deposition of earth abundant electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction

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Abstract/Contents

Abstract
Due to its intermittent nature, large-scale adoption of solar energy requires new technological advancements to efficiently store and distribute energy. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) splitting of water is a promising way to capture solar energy and store it in the form of chemical bonds. We look at leveraging the advantages of ALD, a technique well known in the microelectronics industry, to address some of the most pressing issues in PEC water splitting. In particular, the focus of our studies is the development of catalysts to drive the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a reaction typically associated with high overpotentials and sluggish kinetics. We first investigate known active transition metal oxide catalysts, exploring how to enhance their activity with higher surface area and through electronic effects. We create highly active electrocatalysts of both MnOx and NiOx, and discuss some of the advantages and limitations of using ALD to deposit these films. Next, we focus on using ALD to manage charge transport limitations in semiconducting oxide thin films. We demonstrate the sensitivity of semiconducing thin films to film thickness using ALD TiO2 as a model material. We then show how ALD can be used to explore new semiconducting oxide catalysts, focusing on a Ti-Mn oxide system. We also discuss the integration of these catalysts into PEC devices, with an emphasis on the role of stability, oxidation, and surface area in enhancing the OER activity for photoanodes.

Description

Type of resource text
Form electronic; electronic resource; remote
Extent 1 online resource.
Publication date 2015
Issuance monographic
Language English

Creators/Contributors

Associated with Pickrahn, Katie Lynn
Associated with Stanford University, Department of Chemical Engineering.
Primary advisor Bent, Stacey
Thesis advisor Bent, Stacey
Thesis advisor Jaramillo, Thomas Francisco
Thesis advisor Nørskov, Jens K
Advisor Jaramillo, Thomas Francisco
Advisor Nørskov, Jens K

Subjects

Genre Theses

Bibliographic information

Statement of responsibility Katie Lynn Pickrahn.
Note Submitted to the Department of Chemical Engineering.
Thesis Thesis (Ph.D.)--Stanford University, 2015.
Location electronic resource

Access conditions

Copyright
© 2015 by Katie Lynn Pickrahn
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial 3.0 Unported license (CC BY-NC).

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