Electrochemical photovoltaic cells stabilization and optimization of II-VI semiconductors. Third technical progress report, 1 October 1980 to 31 December 1980

Technical Report · Tue Jan 20 04:00:00 EST 1981

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6428131· OSTI ID:6428131

Noufi, R.; Tench, D.; Warren, L.

A program to provide the basis for designing a practical electrochemical solar cell based on the II-VI compound semiconductors is described. Emphasis is on developing new electrolyte redox systems and electrode surface modifications which will stabilize the II-VI compounds against photodissolution without seriously degrading the long-term solar response. Work on redox couple stabilization of n-CdX photoanodes has focused on fast metal-based one-electron couples in various nonaqueous solvents which represent an extension of work with the methanol/ferro-ferricyanide system, which, although stabilizing for n-CdSe photoanodes, has been found to be photolytically unstable. Very promising results which were obtained for the FeCl/sub 4//sup 1-/2-/ couple in acetonitrile suggest that related chloro-couples should be considered, including the colorless two-electron tin (II, IV) and antimony (III, V) systems. Conducting polymer films of polyrrole photoelectrochemically deposited onto n-type semiconductors were previously shown to protect these electrode materials from photodecomposition while permitting electron exchange with the electrolyte, but poor adhesion has remained a key problem. Recently, improved adhesion has been attained for roughened semiconductor surfaces. It now appears that polypyrrole films are to some extent permeable to solvent/solute species since the film stability depends on the nature of the redox electrolyte, and semiconductor decomposition products seem to form underneath the film in some cases. One possibility for circumventing this problem is to incorporate larger species, e.g., phthalocyanine dyes, within the film matrix.

• Research Organization: Rockwell International Corp., Thousand Oaks, CA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC02-77CH00178
• OSTI ID: 6428131
• Report Number(s): SERI/PR-9276-T2
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
ADHESION
ALCOHOLS
ANODES
AZOLES
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM SELENIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORIDES
CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
COMPLEXES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
EQUIPMENT
FERRICYANIDES
FERROCYANIDES
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IRON CHLORIDES
IRON COMPLEXES
IRON COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
METHANOL
N-TYPE CONDUCTORS
OPTIMIZATION
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOANODES
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
POLYMERS
PYRROLES
REDOX REACTIONS
SELENIDES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
STABILITY
STABILIZATION
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPLEXES
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS