Abstract: A method of fabricating a device includes providing a substrate of the device, forming a structure of the device, the structure being supported by the substrate, having a semiconductor composition, and including a surface, where nitrogen is present at the surface, and incorporating oxygen into the surface to form a stabilizing layer on the surface.

Abstract: A device includes a substrate having a surface, an array of conductive projections supported by the substrate and extending outward from the surface of the substrate, a plurality of catalyst nanoparticles disposed over the array of conductive projections, and an oxide layer covering the plurality of catalyst nanoparticles and the array of conductive projections. The oxide layer has a thickness on the order of a size of each catalyst nanoparticle of the plurality of catalyst nanoparticles.

Abstract: There is described a silicon photoanode generally having a silicon-based substrate; and a protective layer covering the silicon-base substrate, the protective layer having a transition metal dichalcogenide (TMDC) material, being uniform and having a thickness below about 8 nm.