Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting cells: Methods for Improving Performance of Electrodes and Recent Progress on Photocathodes

Authors

Kai-jian ZHU, Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China.;
Wen-jun LUO, Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China.;
Zhong-jie GUAN, Eco-materials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China;
Xin WEN, Eco-materials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China;
Zhi-gang ZOU, Eco-materials and Renewable Energy Research Center (ERERC), National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Department of Physics, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, P. R. China;
Wei HUANG, Key Laboratory of Flexible Electronics (KLOFE) & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing Tech University (NanjingTech), 30 South Puzhu Road, Nanjing 211816, P. R. China.;Key Laboratory for Organic Electronics and Information Displays & Institute of Advanced Materials (IAM), Jiangsu National Synergetic Innovation Center for Advanced Materials (SICAM), Nanjing University of Posts & Telecommunications, 9 Wenyuan Road, Nanjing 210023, P. R. China;

Corresponding Author

Wen-jun LUO (iamwjluo@njtech.edu.cn);
Wei HUANG (iamwhuang@njtech.edu.cn)

Abstract

Photoelectrochemical water splitting can convert solar energy into hydrogen which is an ideal way to utilize and store solar energy. A p-n tandem cell is considered as the most promising solar water splitting cell due to its high theory conversion efficiency, low cost and photoelectrode material flexibility. However, solar conversion efficiency of a tandem cell is still low in the experiment because of poor performance in a single photoelectrode. In this review, we have introduced some effective approaches to improve the performances of photoelectrodes by reducing recombination of photogenerated carriers in the bulk or on the surface, and suppressing back reaction. Moreover, we have also summarized recent progress of some p-type semiconductor photocathodes, such as Si, InP, CuIn_1-x GaxS(Se)₂ and Cu₂ZnSnS₄. Accordingly, we constructed a promising p-Cu₂ZnSnS₄(CuIn_1-xGaxS(Se)₂)/n-Ta₃N₅(Fe₂O₃)photoelectrode and obtained an efficient photoelectrochemical tandem cell with low cost.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

Photoelectrochemical water splitting cells, Photocathodes, Si, InP; CuIn1-xGaxS(Se)2; Cu2ZnSnS4

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.160147

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Date

2016-08-29

Online Available Date

2016-05-05

Revised Date

2016-04-28

Received Date

2016-03-18

Recommended Citation

Kai-jian ZHU, Wen-jun LUO, Zhong-jie GUAN, Xin WEN, Zhi-gang ZOU, Wei HUANG. Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting cells: Methods for Improving Performance of Electrodes and Recent Progress on Photocathodes[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2016 , 22(4): 368-381.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.160147
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol22/iss4/6