Thin-layer photoelectrochemical

Zhao, H. L. Jiang, D. L. Zhang, S. L. Wen, W. Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds at nanoporous Ti02 electrodes in a thin-layer photoelectrochemical cell. J Catal 2007, 250, 102-109. 

On the relevance of mass transport in thin layer nanocrystalline photoelectrochemical solar cells, Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 1996,... 

S. Zhang, H. Zhao, D. Jiang, and R. John. Photoelectrochemical determination of chemical oxygen demand based on an exhaustive degradation model in a thin-layer cell. Anal. Chim. Acta, 514 89-97, 2004. 

On the basis of our theoretical considerations and preliminary experimental work, it is hoped that fast processes of charge carriers will become directly measurable in functioning photoelectrochemical cells, Typical semiconductor electrodes are not the only systems accessible to potential-dependent microwave transient measurements. This technique may also be applied to the interfacial processes of semimetals (metals with energy gaps) or thin oxide or sulfide layers on ordinary metal electrodes. 

Hodes G, Manassen J, Neagu S,Cahen D, Mirovski Y (1982) Electroplated cadmium chalco-genide layers Characterization and use in photoelectrochemical solar ceUs. Thin Sohd FUms... 

Torimoto T, Obayashi A, Kuwabata S, Yasuda H, Mori H, Yoneyama H (2000) Preparation of size-quantized ZnS thin films using electrochemical atomic layer epitaxy and their photoelectrochemical properties. Langmuir 16 5820-5824... 

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. 

Byvik CE, Smith BT, Reichman B (1982) Layered transition metal thiophosphates (MPX3) as photoelectrodes in photoelectrochemical cells. Sol Energy Mater 7 213-223 Lincot D, Gomez Meier H, Kessler J, Vedel J, Dimmler B, Schock HW (1990) Photoelectrochemical study of p-type copper indium diselenide thin films for photovoltaic... 

Figure 5.51 Applied potential dependence on the photocurrent intensities of RUC7VCeS / Au (O), RuCsVCgS/Au ( ), RuC17S/Au ( ) and RuC13S/Au ( ) electrodes Xex, 470 nm [TEOA] = 5 x 10-2 M [NaC104] = 0.1 M. Reprinted from Thin Solid Films, 350, Y. Koide,N. Terasaki,T. Akiyama and S. Yamada, Effects of spacer-chain length on the photoelectrochemical responses of mono-layer assemblies with ruthenium tris(2,2 -bipyridine)-viologen linked disulfides, 223-227, Copyright (1999), with permission from Elsevier Science...

The first step was the evolution away from the Schottky barrier model of photoelectrochemistry caused by the evidence from the late 1970s onward that the rate of photoelectrochemical reactions was heavily dependent on surface effects (Uosaki, 1981 Szklarczyk, 1983). This was followed by the use of both a photocathode and a photoanode in the same cell (Ohashi, 1977). Then the use of nonactive thin protective passive layers of oxides and sulfides allowed photoanodes to operate in potential regions in which they would otherwise have dissolved (Bockris and Uosaki, 1977). The final step was the introduction of electrocatalysis of both hydrogen and oxygen evolution by means of metal islets of appropriate catalytic power (Bockris and Szklarczyk, 1983). 

A. Michaelis and J. W. Schultze, Thin Solid Films 274 82 (1996). Photoelectrochemical examination of passive layers. 

An example of recent achievement in this area is a flexible, thin film Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell deposited on a titanium foil, which was combined with a TiC>2 photocatalyst layer and modified by a niobium-doped titanium oxide front electrode to function as a photoelectrochemical tandem cell/membrane for a direct light-driven hydrogen evolution from an aqueous solution [48], Under illumination with UV/vis light, the system produced up to 0.052 pLH2/scm2 (e.g. the hydrogen formation rate was approximately 7,250 pmol/h g relative to the amount of TiC>2 used). Several aspects of the operating principles of the photoelectrochemical devices, the materials requirements, main bottlenecks, and the various device concepts (in relation to H2... 

In summary, Group III V semiconductors have several positive features that make them attractive for water photosplitting applications. The combination of high carrier mobility and an optimal band gap (particularly for many of the alloys, see below) coupled with reasonable photoelectrochemical stability for the p type materi al under HER conditions, should inspire continuing scrutiny of Group III V semi conductors. The control of surface chemistry is also particularly crucial to avoid problems with surface recombination. For example, the studies on p InP photoca thode surfaces have shown that a (controlled) ultra-thin interfacial oxide layer is critical for minimizing carrier recombination at the surface.66,199,201,554... 

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