Tuning p-Si(111) Photovoltage via Molecule|Semiconductor Electronic Coupling

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) device efficiency depends heavily on the energetics and band alignment of the semiconductor vertical bar overlayer junction. Exerting energetic control over these junctions via molecular functionalization is an extremely attractive strategy. Herein we report a study of the structure-function relationship between chemically functionalized pSi(111) and the resulting solar fuels performance. Specifically, we highlight the interplay of chemical structure and electronic coupling between the attached molecule and the underlying semiconductor. Covalent attachment of aryl surface modifiers (phenyl, Ph; nitrophenyl, PhNO2; anthracene, Anth; and nitroanthracene, AnthNO(2)) resulted in high-fidelity surfaces with low defect densities (S < 50 cm/s). Electrochemical characterization of these surfaces in contact with methyl viologen resulted in systematically shifted band edges (up to 0.99 V barrier height) and correspondingly high photoelectrochemical performance (V-oc up to 0.43 V vs MV2+) consistent with the introduction of a positive interfacial dipole. We extend this functionalization to HER conditions and demonstrate systematic tuning of the HER V-oc using pSi(111)-RITiO2 vertical bar Pt architecture. Correlation of the shifts in barrier height with the photovoltage provides evidence for nonideality despite low surface recombination. Critically, DFT calculations of the electronic structure of the organic-functionalized interfaces show that the molecule-based electronic states effectively hybridized with the silicon band edges. A comparison of these interfacial states with their isolated molecular analogues further confirms electronic coupling between the attached molecule and the underlying semiconductor, providing an induced density of interfacial states (IDIS) which decreases the potential drop across the semiconductor. These results demonstrate the delicate interplay between interfacial chemical structure, interfacial dipole, and electronic structure.

Automated summary

The efficiency of photoelectrochemical (PEC) devices depends heavily on the energetics and band alignment of the semiconductor overlayer junction, which can be controlled through molecular functionalization. By covalently attaching aryl surface modifiers, high-fidelity surfaces with low defect densities were achieved, resulting in systematically shifted band edges and high photoelectrochemical performance. DFT calculations showed that the organic-functionalized interfaces effectively hybridized with the silicon band edges, introducing a positive interfacial dipole and decreasing the potential drop across the semiconductor.