Metallic binary alloyed superconductors for photogenerating current from dissociated water molecules using broad light spectra

The production of hydrogen through water splitting via photocatalysis seems to be a promising and appealing pathway for clean energy conversion and storage. Here, we report for the first time that a series of metallic binary alloyed superconductors (MgB2, AlB2, NbB2, and NbSe2) can be used as a photoanode and a cathode in a photocatalyst composite for both hydrogen production and water oxidation reactions. It was found that the highly active ion binary metal-based photocatalyst can be used as a low-cost alternative to Pt for water photolysis. The metallic binary alloyed superconductors exhibit high activity toward both the oxygen and hydrogen evolution reactions in pure distil water and seawater. The combination of the two such photoanode and cathode yields a water splitting photocurrent density of around 1mA/cm\(2), corresponding to a solar-to-photocurrent efficiency of 34%. The strong correlation between the superconductive temperature and the photocatalytic water splitting effectivity for investigated diborides has been revealed. Published by AIP Publishing.