Journal Article

FZJ-2014-05263

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Development of Thin Film Amorphous Silicon Tandem Junction Based Photocathodes Providing High Open-Circuit Voltages for Hydrogen Production

Urbain, F. (Corresponding Author)FZJ* ; Wilken, K.FZJ* ; Smirnov, V.FZJ* ; Astakhov, O.FZJ* ; Lambertz, A.FZJ* ; Becker, J.-P. ; Rau, U.FZJ* ; Ziegler, J. ; Kaiser, B. ; Jaegermann, W. ; Finger, F.FZJ*

2014
Hindawi Publ. Corp. New York, NY [u.a.]

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/8021  doi:10.1155/2014/249317

Abstract: Hydrogenated amorphous silicon thin film tandem solar cells (a-Si:H/a-Si:H) have been developed with focus on high open-circuit voltages for the direct application as photocathodes in photoelectrochemical water splitting devices. By temperature variation during deposition of the intrinsic a-Si:H absorber layers the band gap energy of a-Si:H absorber layers, correlating with the hydrogen content of the material, can be adjusted and combined in a way that a-Si:H/a-Si:H tandem solar cells provide open-circuit voltages up to 1.87 V. The applicability of the tandem solar cells as photocathodes was investigated in a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) measurement set-up. With platinum as a catalyst, the a-Si:H/a-Si:H based photocathodes exhibit a high photocurrent onset potential of 1.76 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a photocurrent of 5.3 mA/cm2 at 0 V versus RHE (under halogen lamp illumination). Our results provide evidence that a direct application of thin film silicon based photocathodes fulfills the main thermodynamic requirements to generate hydrogen. Furthermore, the presented approach may provide an efficient and low-cost route to solar hydrogen production.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Photovoltaik (IEK-5)

Research Program(s):

1. 111 - Thin Film Photovoltaics (POF2-111) (POF2-111)
2. HITEC - Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training in Energy and Climate Research (HITEC) (HITEC-20170406) (HITEC-20170406)

Appears in the scientific report 2014

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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