A 12% efficient photoelectrochemical cell based on polycrystalline n-CuInSe/sub 2/ electrodes
Photoelectrochemical cells are important devices for the conversion of solar energy. However, the development of these cells has been so far somewhat hindered by the relatively low conversion efficiency and the poor stability offered by the most common semiconductor/electrolyte systems. Recently, there has been a renewed interest in the field, due to the characterization of highly stable semiconductor electrodes selected among the class of ternary chalcogenides of the chalcopyrite or spinel type. The most promising material of this class is undoubtedly copper indium diselenide, CuInSe/sub 2/. This ternary semiconductor has an optimal value of bandgap (around 1 eV) and offers a very promising photoelectrochemical behavior, as shown by the recent results reported by Cahen and co-workers and by Lewerenz and co-workers. All these results show that the photoelectrochemical response of CuInSe/sub 2/ electrodes is greatly influenced by the nature and the composition of the electrolyte solution. If the electrolyte composition is properly selected, high efficiencies and long stabilities may be obtained from CuInSe/sub 2/-based photoelectrochemical cells. Effectively, using a typical polysulfide electrolyte, and efficiency of 5.2% has been reported. However, this value may be greatly enhanced when the surface of the semiconductor electrode is protected by an indium oxide film and a polyiodide electrolyte with suitable additions of Cu/sup +/ and In/sup 3 +/ ions and of HI, is used. Under these conditions, efficiencies of 11.7% (3) and of 9.5%, have been reached with photoelectrochemical cells using n-CuInSe/sub 2/ single-crystal electrodes.
- Research Organization:
- Centro Studio Processi Elettrodici del CNR, Dipartimento di Chimica Fisica Appicata, Politecnico di Milano, Milan
- OSTI ID:
- 5984363
- Journal Information:
- J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 133:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
COPPER SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
ELECTRODES
INDIUM SELENIDE SOLAR CELLS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ELECTROLYTES
EV RANGE 01-10
POLYCRYSTALS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
CONVERSION
CRYSTALS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY RANGE
EQUIPMENT
EV RANGE
MATERIALS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion