Characterization of Stable NiO
                    
                      x
                    
                    /SrTaO
                    
                      x
                    
                    N
                    
                      y
                    
                    Bilayers Boosting the Oxygen Evolution Reaction for Solar Water Splitting

Zahra Pourmand Tehrani; Kyle J. Stephens; Vladimir Roddatis; Jochen Stahn; Aleksandar Staykov; Christof W. Schneider; Daniele Pergolesi; Thomas Lippert

doi:10.1002/smsc.202500638

journal article Open Access Mar 01, 2026

Characterization of Stable NiO x /SrTaO x N y Bilayers Boosting the Oxygen Evolution Reaction for Solar Water Splitting

Zahra Pourmand Tehrani Kyle J. Stephens

Vladimir Roddatis

Jochen Stahn

Aleksandar Staykov

Christof W. Schneider

Daniele Pergolesi

Thomas Lippert

Small Science Vol. 6 No. 3 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/smsc.202500638

Abstract

SrTaO

x

N

y

(STON) is a well‐known visible light‐responsive semiconductor with ideally located band edges that allow the operability of overall water splitting. Like many oxynitrides, STON shows evidence of detrimental physicochemical changes under oxygen evolution reaction (OER) conditions involving strong caustic electrolytes. We investigate the development of STON instability with detailed electron microscopy and neutron reflectometry (NR) techniques using epitaxial thin films. Different crystallographic orientations are compared with ex situ analysis before and after OER in photoelectrochemical testing. A remarkable difference in stability of the STON surface is observed depending on the crystalline facets, with the [011] lattice planes being the more favorable orientation as compared to [001]. In addition, we show that the electrochemical stability of the photoelectrode surface can be dramatically improved by a homogeneous coating of NiO

x

, which significantly improves OER kinetics and surface stability in the alkaline environment. NR is realized in this work as a novel route to monitor this photoelectrochemical environment, and it lies in agreement with its microscopy counterpart to monitor the physicochemical changes. This demonstrates potential of NR as an alternative and complementary tool that also has the feasibility for future in situ experimental design.

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Details

Published: Mar 01, 2026
Vol/Issue: 6(3)
License: View

Authors

Z

Zahra Pourmand Tehrani

PSI Centre for Neutrons and Muons Sciences Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen Switzerland; Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry ETH Zürich Zurich Switzerland

K

Kyle J. Stephens

PSI Centre for Neutrons and Muons Sciences Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen Switzerland; Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry ETH Zürich Zurich Switzerland

V

Vladimir Roddatis

GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences Potsdam Germany

J

Jochen Stahn

PSI Centre for Neutrons and Muons Sciences Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen Switzerland

A

Aleksandar Staykov

International Institute for Carbon‐Neutral Energy Research (I<sup>2</sup>CNER) Kyushu University Fukuoka Japan

C

Christof W. Schneider

PSI Centre for Neutrons and Muons Sciences Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen Switzerland

D

Daniele Pergolesi

PSI Centre for Neutrons and Muons Sciences Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen Switzerland; PSI Centre for Energy and Environmental Sciences Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen Switzerland

T

Thomas Lippert

PSI Centre for Neutrons and Muons Sciences Paul Scherrer Institute Villigen Switzerland; Laboratory of Inorganic Chemistry ETH Zürich Zurich Switzerland

Cite This Article

Zahra Pourmand Tehrani, Kyle J. Stephens, Vladimir Roddatis, et al. (2026). Characterization of Stable NiO x /SrTaO x N y Bilayers Boosting the Oxygen Evolution Reaction for Solar Water Splitting. Small Science, 6(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/smsc.202500638

Characterization of Stable NiO x /SrTaO x N y Bilayers Boosting the Oxygen Evolution Reaction for Solar Water Splitting

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