Electrochemical photovoltaic cells. Project 65021 quarterly technical progress report, July 15-October 15, 1979
During the second quarter of this program we have evaluated the photoelectrochemical performance of single-crystal MoSe/sub 2/ and GaAs, polycrystalline CdSe, and cells with RbAg/sub 4/I/sub 5/ solid electrolyte. MoSe/sub 2/ electrode exhibited very good photoresponse in electrolytes containing Br/sup -//Br/sub 2/ redox couple. The photopotential and photocurrent were larger in acid than in alkaline electrolyte. A power conversion efficiency of about 5% was achieved under 200 mW/cm/sup 2/ Xenon light illumination in the acid medium. The catalytic activity of a platinized platinum electrode toward Br/sup -//Br/sub 2/ redox couple was also better in acid electrolyte than in alkaline electrolyte. Higher current densities were obtained in the acid medium. The MoSe/sub 2/ was found to have good stability in acid and alkaline electrolytes; however, it will be necessary to protect the electrolyte against evaporation of the bromine, oxidation by air, or photodecomposition. GaAs was tested in alkaline electrolytes containing Se/sup 2 -//Se/sub n//sup 2 -/, I/sup -//I/sub 2/ or Br/sup -//Br/sub 2/ redox couple and in acid electrolytes containing Fe/sup +2//Fe/sup +3/, Cr/sup +2//Cr/sup +3/, Sn/sup +2//Sn/sup +4/, Cu/sup +1//Cu/sup +2/, Ti/sup +3//Ti/sup +4/, I/sup -//I/sub 2/ or Br/sup -//Br/sub 2/. Large anodic dark currents were observed in solutions containing Sn/sup +2//Sn/sup +4/ or Cu/sup +1//Cu/sup +2/. The large photoeffects found with the other redox couples were usually accompanied by electrode darkening and decrease in photocurrent with time. Polycrystalline electrodes have been made by thermal vacuum evaporation of CdSe on titanium foil or SnO/sub 2/-coated glass. The CdSe still suffered from poor adherence to the substrates and, therefore, poor photoresponse. A solid electrolyte photoelectrochemical cell was fabricated giving photopotentials of about 300 mV at current densities of about 0.1 mA/cm/sup 2/ under 200 mW/cm/sup 2/ Xenon light illumination.
- Research Organization:
- Institute of Gas Technology, Chicago, IL (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- EG-77-C-01-4042
- OSTI ID:
- 5430105
- Report Number(s):
- DSE-4042-T8
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Electrochemical photovoltaic cells. Project 65021 quarterly technical progress report, October 15, 1979-January 15, 1980
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Related Subjects
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
BROMINE IONS
CADMIUM SELENIDES
CATALYSIS
CHROMIUM IONS
COPPER IONS
CURRENT DENSITY
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
IODINE IONS
IRON IONS
MOLYBDENUM SELENIDES
PERFORMANCE
PHOTOANODES
PLATINUM
REDOX REACTIONS
RUBIDIUM IODIDES
SELENIUM IONS
SILVER IODIDES
SOLID ELECTROLYTES
STABILITY
TIN IONS
TITANIUM IONS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANODES
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
ATOMIC IONS
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHARGED PARTICLES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
IODIDES
IODINE COMPOUNDS
IONS
METALS
MOLYBDENUM COMPOUNDS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
PLATINUM METALS
PNICTIDES
RUBIDIUM COMPOUNDS
SELENIDES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SILVER COMPOUNDS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
140505* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)