Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Bornoz, Pauline
• Abdi, Fatwa F
• Tilley, S. David
• Dam, Bernard
• van de Krol, Roel
• Graetzel, Michael
• Sivula, Kevin

Titel

A Bismuth Vanadate–Cuprous Oxide Tandem Cell for Overall Solar Water Splitting

Ist Teil von

• Journal of physical chemistry. C, 2014-07, Vol.118 (30), p.16959-16966

Ort / Verlag

American Chemical Society

Erscheinungsjahr

2014

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Alma/SFX Local Collection

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Through examination of the optoelectronic and photoelectrochemical properties of BiVO4 and Cu2O photoelectrodes, we evaluate the feasibility of a BiVO4/Cu2O photoanode/photocathode tandem cell for overall unassisted solar water splitting. Using state-of-the-art photoelectrodes we identify current-matching conditions by altering the photoanode active layer thickness. By further employing water oxidation and reduction catalysts (Co-Pi and RuO x , respectively) together with an operating point analysis, we show that an unassisted solar photocurrent density on the order of 1 mA cm–2 is possible in a tandem cell and moreover gain insight into routes for improvement. Finally, we demonstrate the unassisted 2-electrode operation of the tandem cell. Photocurrents corresponding to ca. 0.5% solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency were found to decay over the course of minutes because of the detachment of the Co-Pi catalyst. This aspect provides a fundamental challenge to the stable operation of the tandem cell with the currently employed catalysts.