Role of Ni sites in NiOOH modified Sn doped hematite photoanodes towards photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation in alkaline conditions

Photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation has emerged as a sustainable and economically viable approach in conversion of glycerol into solar fuels .To achieve selectivity in alkaline regime towards dihydroxyacetone (DHA) and glyceraldehyde (GLAD), we have fabricated Sn doped hematite photoanodes followed by NiOOH functionalisation through photo-assisted electrodeposition. We plan to perform an operando X- ray Absorption Spectroscopy experiment at Ni-K edge on these photoanodes during photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation reaction to understand local order and oxidation state of Ni. The role of Ni phase transition in Ni(OH)2 /NiOOH cocatalyst sites on photoanodes has never been reported before for photoelectrochemical glycerol oxidation reaction. Therefore, the proposed experiment with these state-of-art photoanodes will bridge the gap in understanding formation of metastable charged states possibly present in the cocatalyst during operation enhancing selectivity of C3 molecules.