posted on 2024-01-18, 10:03authored byKaijian Zhu, Lisanne M. Einhaus, Guido Mul, Annemarie Huijser
In the present study, we investigate the effects of the
applied
external potential on a dye-sensitized NiO photocathode by time-resolved
photoluminescence and femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy
under operating conditions. Instead of the anticipated acceleration
of photoinduced hole injection from dye into NiO at a more negative
applied potential, we observe that both hole injection and charge
recombination are slowed down. We cautiously assign this effect to
a variation in OH– ion concentration in the inner
Helmholtz plane of the electrochemical double layer with applied potential,
warranting further investigation for the realization of efficient
solar fuel devices.