Production of solar hydrogen energy by nanostructured semiconductor photoelectrode

Abstract

The present paper describes the modification and solar hydrogen production studies employing a new semiconductor-septum (SC-SEP)

photoelectrode ns-TiO2-In2O3 admixed/Ti based photoelectrochemical solar cell. The current-voltage characteristics of the above SC-SEP cell

revealed that an enhancement in short-circuit current (ISC) up to three times (5~14.6 mAcm-2). The optimum hydrogen production rate was

found to be 11.8 lh-1m-2 for 5 M H2SO4 and with a further increase in H2SO4 concentration, the hydrogen production rate was found to be

invariant. In yet another part of our study instead of using new SC-SEP solar cell design, we used a new material form such as ns-TiO2-WO3.

The WO3 admixed ns-TiO2 exhibited a high photo-current and photo-voltage of 15.6 mAcm-2, 960 mV, respectively. The ns-TiO2-WO3

electrode exhibited a higher hydrogen gas evolution rate of 13.8 lh-1m-2.