Overall Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting using Tandem Cell under Simulated Sunlight

ChemSusChem. 2016 Jan 8;9(1):61-6. doi: 10.1002/cssc.201501401. Epub 2015 Dec 15.

Abstract

A stand-alone photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting system driven only by sunlight was demonstrated with a tandem-scheme of Pt/CdS/CuGa3 Se5 /(Ag,Cu)GaSe2 photocathode and NiOOH/FeOOH/Mo:BiVO4 photoanode in a neutral phosphate buffer solution as an electrolyte. The as-prepared semi-transparent Mo:BiVO4 layer allows sunlight to pass through the top photoanode and reach the bottom photocathode. Consequently, the tandem cell showed stoichiometric hydrogen and oxygen evolution with a solar-to-hydrogen (STH) conversion efficiency of 0.67 % over 2 h without degradation. The stability and STH efficiency are the highest among similar configuration of PEC tandem cells.

Keywords: photoelectrochemical cell; photoelectrodes; solar-to-hydrogen; tandem cell; water splitting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation
  • Electrochemical Techniques / methods*
  • Electrodes
  • Hydrogen / chemistry
  • Light
  • Models, Chemical*
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Photochemical Processes*
  • Sunlight*
  • Surface Properties
  • Water / chemistry*

Substances

  • Water
  • Hydrogen
  • Oxygen