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Title: Photoelectrochemical based direct conversion systems for hydrogen production

Conference ·
OSTI ID:447148
; ;  [1]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States); and others

Photon driven, direct conversion systems consist of a light absorber and a water splitting catalyst as a monolithic system; water is split directly upon illumination. This one-step process eliminates the need to generate electricity externally and subsequently feed it to an electrolyzer. These configurations require only the piping necessary for transport of hydrogen to an external storage system or gas pipeline. This work is focused on multiphoton photoelectrochemical devices for production of hydrogen directly using sunlight and water. Two types of multijunction cells, one consisting of a-Si triple junctions and the other GaInP{sub 2}/GaAs homojunctions, were studied for the photoelectrochemical decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen from an aqueous electrolyte solution. To catalyze the water decomposition process, the illuminated surface of the device was modified either by addition of platinum colloids or by coating with ruthenium dioxide. These colloids have been characterized by gel electrophoresis.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
OSTI ID:
447148
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-430-21968-Vol.1; CONF-9605195-Vol.1; ON: DE97000053; TRN: 97:001172-0016
Resource Relation:
Conference: 1996 annual hydrogen peer review for DOE, Miami, FL (United States), 1-3 May 1996; Other Information: PBD: Oct 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Proceedings of the 1996 US DOE hydrogen program review. Volume 1; PB: 575 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English