Photoelectrochemical electrolyte

Aqueous polysulflde solutions have been widely investigated as primary electrolytes in photoelectrochemical solar cells (PEC Chap. 5). The complexity of these solutions arising from the overlap of multiple chemical equilibria is well... 

Licht S (1995) Electrolyte modified photoelectrochemical solar cells. Sol Energy Mater Sol Cells 38 305-319... 

A comprehensive survey of solar rechargeable PEC batteries, up to 1991, along with the historical development of photoelectrochemical cells has been given by Sharon et al. [61]. The principles and performance of solar PEC batteries with or without a membrane, with an aqueous solution or with solid-state electrolytes, are discussed there. 

The photoelectrochemical behavior of ZnSe-coated CdSe thin Aims (both deposited by vacuum evaporation on Ti) in polysulflde solution has been described by Russak and Reichman [112] and was reported to be similar to MIS-type devices. Specifically, Auger depth profiling showed the ZnSe component of the (ZnSe)CdSe heterostructures to convert to ZnO after heat treatment in air, thus forming a (ZnO)CdSe structure, while the ZnO surface layer was further converted to a ZnS layer by cycling the electrode in polysulfide electrolyte. This electrochemically generated ZnS layer provided an enhanced open-circuit potential compared to CdSe alone. Efficiencies as high as 5.4% under simulated AM2 conditions were recorded for these electrodes. 

Efficient photoelectrochemical decomposition of ZnSe electrodes has been observed in aqueous (indifferent) electrolytes of various pHs, despite the wide band gap of the semiconductor [119, 120]. On the other hand, ZnSe has been found to exhibit better dark electrochemical stability compared to the GdX compounds. Large dark potential ranges of stability (at least 3 V) were determined for I-doped ZnSe electrodes in aqueous media of pH 0, 6.3, and 14, by Gautron et al. [121], who presented also a detailed discussion of the flat band potential behavior on the basis of the Gartner model. Interestingly, a Nernstian pH dependence was found for... 

Mishra et al. [198] discussed in an exemplary way the dark and photocorrosion behavior of their SnS-electrodeposited polycrystalline films on the basis of Pourbaix diagrams, by performing photoelectrochemical studies in aqueous electrolytes with various redox couples. Polarization curves for the SnS samples in a Fe(CN) redox electrolyte revealed partial rectification for cathodic current flow in the dark, establishing the SnS as p-type. The incomplete rectification was... 

Bard AJ, Wrighton MS (1977) Thermodynamic potential forthe anodic dissolution of n-type semiconductors - A crucial factor controlling durability and efficiency in photoelectrochem-ical cells and an important criterion in the selection of new electrode/electrolyte systems. J Electrochem Soc 124 1706-1710... 

Elhs AB, Kaiser SW, Wrighton MS (1976) Optical to electrical energy conversion Cadmium telluride-based photoelectrochemical cells employing telluride/ditelluride electrolytes. J Am Chem Soc 98 6418-6420... 

Licht S, Peramunage D (1990) Efficient photoelectrochemical solar cells from electrolyte modification. Nature 345 330-333... 

Russak MA, Reichman J (1982) Photoelectrochemical performance of ZnSe/CdSe thin film electrodes in aqueous polysulfide electrolyte. J Electrochem Soc 129 542-545... 

Chaparro AM, Salvador P, Mir A (1996) The scanning microscope for semiconductor characterization (SMSC) Study of the influence of surface morphology on the photoelectrochemical behavior of an n-MoSe2 single crystal electrode by photocurrent and electrolyte electroreflectance imaging. J Electroanal Chem 418 175-183... 

Matsumoto M, Miyazaki H, Matsuhiro K, Kumashiro Y, Takaoka Y (1996) A dye sensitized Ti02 photoelectrochemical cell constructed with polymer solid electrolyte. Solid State Ionics 89 263-267... 

Photoelectrochemical measurements were carried out by using a three-electrode cell containing the modified electrode as a working electrode, a platinum electrode as a counter electrode, and an Ag/AgCl electrode as a reference electrode. Na2S04 was used as the supporting electrolyte. Photocurrents from the modified electrode were... 

A. R. Brown. Photoelectrochemical Processes at the Interface Between Two Immiscible Electrolyte Solutions. PhD Thesis, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, 1992. 

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