Yen-Ting Chen, Tsung-Hsin Liu, Chun-Wei Chen, Tung-Han Chuang

Abstract: This study proposes a novel approach for applying the nanotwinned Ag thin films in CO₂ reduction. We focus on optimizing the sputter deposition process of nanocrystalline Ag structures on n+Si chips and preparing nanotwinned silver catalysts with good structure, adhesion, and stability. The effects of twinned structure catalysts on the photocatalytic performance were investigated. In this research, the n+Si/Gr/sputtered Ag structure was used as the photoelectrode for photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO₂ reduction reaction (CO₂RR) since the utilization of graphene can expedite carrier transport, thereby improving device stability and performance in electrolytes. Nanotwinned Ag films were successfully synthesized on graphene transferred n+Si substrates with DC magnetron sputtering. Focused ion beam analyses demonstrated that the addition of graphene did not diminish the nanotwin density; rather, it improved the quality of the sputtered Ag thin films, which leads the framework to a potential structure for PEC CO₂RR.

Keywords: Ag nanotwin, Sputtering, Graphene, CO2 reduction reaction, Hydrogen production

Date Published: September 26, 2023
DOI: 10.11159/ijmmme.2023.002

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