The Co2p spin and oxidation state in Co-PI catalysts
- The electronic structure of cobalt based catalysts used for photocatalytic water splitting in solar cells is analyzed using synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalyst films are prepared by electrochemical deposition. We employ a X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study to analyze the Co2p and O1s core levels, absorption edges and valence bands. We discuss our resonant data in terms of the partial density of states of the valence and conduction band. We find a difference in the Co oxidation state as a function of film thickness (deposited charge). From the relative amount of Co, O, K and P we favor the molecular cobaltate cluster-like structure as the structural motif of the Co-PI catalyst. Further, at resonant PES at the Co2p edge we find the Co2p partial DOS to exhibit no sharp features next to the VBM, instead there is a broad emission at around 6eV below EFerrmi. The former are found in LiCoO2 and other Co-oxide systems with a Co3+ ground state. We attribute such sharp features to the low spin (LS) configurationThe electronic structure of cobalt based catalysts used for photocatalytic water splitting in solar cells is analyzed using synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy. The catalyst films are prepared by electrochemical deposition. We employ a X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy study to analyze the Co2p and O1s core levels, absorption edges and valence bands. We discuss our resonant data in terms of the partial density of states of the valence and conduction band. We find a difference in the Co oxidation state as a function of film thickness (deposited charge). From the relative amount of Co, O, K and P we favor the molecular cobaltate cluster-like structure as the structural motif of the Co-PI catalyst. Further, at resonant PES at the Co2p edge we find the Co2p partial DOS to exhibit no sharp features next to the VBM, instead there is a broad emission at around 6eV below EFerrmi. The former are found in LiCoO2 and other Co-oxide systems with a Co3+ ground state. We attribute such sharp features to the low spin (LS) configuration of Co3+ and deduce that in the Co catalysts there is no evidence for the corresponding LS contributions. Our data prove the Co2+ ground state and demonstrate that it is exclusively in the Co3d7 high spin state in the pristine catalyst films.…
Author: | Matthias RichterGND, Dieter SchmeißerORCiD |
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URL: | http://www.dpg-verhandlungen.de/year/2013/conference/regensburg/part/ds/session/35/contribution/9?lang=de |
Title of the source (German): | Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft |
Publisher: | Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft |
Place of publication: | Bad Honnef |
Document Type: | Conference Proceeding |
Language: | English |
Year of publication: | 2013 |
Tag: | X-Ray photoelectron spectroscopy; cobalt based catalyst; resonant photoemission spectroscopy; water splitting |
Series ; volume number: | Verhandlungen der Deutschen Physikalischen Gesellschaft ; Reihe 6, Band 48 |
Faculty/Chair: | Fakultät 1 MINT - Mathematik, Informatik, Physik, Elektro- und Informationstechnik / FG Angewandte Physik und Halbleiterspektroskopie |