Integration of a Hydrogenase in a Lead Halide Perovskite Photoelectrode for Tandem Solar Water Splitting

• Published in: ACS energy letters 2020-01, Vol.5 (1), p.232-237
• Main Authors: Edwardes Moore, Esther, Andrei, Virgil, Zacarias, Sónia, Pereira, Inês A. C, Reisner, Erwin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Letter
• ISSN: 2380-8195; 2380-8195
• DOI: 10.1021/acsenergylett.9b02437

Lead halide perovskite solar cells are notoriously moisture-sensitive, but recent encapsulation strategies have demonstrated their potential application as photoelectrodes in aqueous solution. However, perovskite photoelectrodes rely on precious metal co-catalysts, and their combination with biological materials remains elusive in integrated devices. Here, we interface [NiFeSe] hydrogenase from Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, a highly active enzyme for H2 generation, with a triple cation mixed halide perovskite. The perovskite–hydrogenase photoelectrode produces a photocurrent of −5 mA cm–2 at 0 V vs RHE during AM1.5G irradiation, is stable for 12 h and the hydrogenase exhibits a turnover number of 1.9 × 106. The positive onset potential of +0.8 V vs RHE allows its combination with a BiVO4 water oxidation photoanode to give a self-sustaining, bias-free photoelectrochemical tandem system for overall water splitting (solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of 1.1%). This work demonstrates the compatibility of immersed perovskite elements with biological catalysts to produce hybrid photoelectrodes with benchmark performance, which establishes their utility in semiartificial photosynthesis.