Abstract
A surface alkylated and metal nano-dotted n-Si electrode yields an efficient and stable photovoltaic characteristic in an aqueous redox electrolyte. It generates a high photovoltage due to a unique effect of metal nano-contact and is stabilized by surface alkylation. In the present work, we have prepared a composite electrode, composed of the surface methylated and Pt nano-dotted n-Si single crystal electrode and a tungsten trioxide (WO 3) particulate thin film, to decompose water into oxygen and H + ions under solar irradiation. The onset potential of the oxygen evolution photocurrent for the composite electrode shifts to the negative by about 0.2 V compared with that for the WO3 electrode alone, indicating that the two-step, Z-scheme mechanism operates in the composite electrode, leading to generation of a high photovoltage that comes from a series sum of the photovoltage in the Si and that in the WO3. It is discussed that a composite "polycrystalline Si / visible-light responsive metal-oxide thin-film" electrode is a promising approach to high-efficiency and low-cost solar water splitting.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 59380G |
Pages (from-to) | 1-6 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
Volume | 5938 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2005 Dec 1 |
Event | Organic Photovoltaics VI - San Diego, CA, United States Duration: 2005 Aug 2 → 2005 Aug 4 |
Keywords
- Hydrogen
- Nano particle
- Oxygen
- Photocatalysis
- Photoelectrochemistry
- Solar energy
- Surface modification
- Thin film
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science Applications
- Applied Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering