Mechanistic Insights into Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution of CrOx/Rh Nanoparticles for Photocatalytic Water Splitting

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) of Rh nanoparticles (RhNP) coated with an ultrathin layer of Cr-oxides (CrOx) was investigated as a model electrode for the Cr2O3/Rh-metal core-shell-type cocatalyst system for photocatalytic water splitting. The CrOx layer was electrodeposited over RhNP on a transparent conductive fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. The CrOx layer on RhNP facilitates the electron transfer process at the CrOx/RhNP interface, leading to the increased current density for the HER. Impedance spectroscopic analysis revealed that the CrOx layer transferred protons via the hopping mechanism to the RhNP surface for HER. In addition, CrOx restricted electron transfer from the FTO to the electrolyte and/or RhNP and suppressed the backward reaction by limiting oxygen migration. This study clarifies the crucial role of the ultrathin CrOx layer on nanoparticulate cocatalysts and provides a cocatalyst design strategy for realizing efficient photocatalytic water splitting.

Automated summary

This study investigated the HER of Rh nanoparticles coated with an ultrathin layer of Cr-oxides as a model electrode for the Cr2O3/Rh-metal core-shell-type cocatalyst system. The CrOx layer on RhNP facilitated the electron transfer process, leading to increased current density for the HER. It was found that the CrOx layer promoted proton transfer to the RhNP surface and restricted electron transfer from the FTO to the electrolyte and/or RhNP, resulting in efficient photocatalytic water splitting.