Combinatorial approach to identification of catalysts for the photoelectrolysis of water

A new simple and high-throughput combinatorial method to search for materials capable of the photoelectrolysis of water is presented. Ink jet printing is used to pattern metal oxide precursors (simple nitrate salts) onto conductive glass substrates. Subsequent pyrolysis yields electrodes with patterns of metal oxide compositions that, when immersed in an electrolyte, are easily screened for photoelectrolysis activity using a simple scanning laser system. Some promising metal oxide compositions were identified using this approach.