Nanoporous Au Thin Films on Si Photoelectrodes for Selective and Efficient Photoelectrochemical CO2 Reduction

An Si photoelectrode with a nanoporous Au thin film for highly selective and efficient photoelectrochemical (PEC) CO 2 reduction reaction (CO 2 RR) is presented. The nanoporous Au thin film is formed by electrochemical reduction of an anodized Au thin film. The electrochemical treatments of the Au thin film critically improve CO 2 reduction catalytic activity of Au catalysts and exhibit CO Faradaic efficiency of 96% at 480 mV of overpotential. To apply the electrochemical pretreatment of Au films for PEC CO 2 RR, a new Si photoelectrode design with mesh‐type co‐catalysts independently wired at the front and the back of the photoelectrode is demonstrated. Due to the superior CO 2 RR activity of the nanoporous Au mesh and high photovoltage from Si, the Si photoelectrode with the nanoporous Au thin film mesh shows conversion of CO 2 to CO with 91% Faradaic efficiency at positive potential than the CO 2 /CO equilibrium potential.