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N-type amorphous (or microcrystalline) silicon/p-type crystalline silicon heterojunction electrodes for efficient and stable solar-to-chemical conversion

Journal Article · · J. Appl. Phys.; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.341826· OSTI ID:7201210
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Silicon (Si) electrodes having a n-p heterojunction for hydrogen photoevolution were prepared by depositing n-type amorphous or microcrystalline Si layers on p-type single-crystal Si wafers by the plasma chemical-vapor-deposition method. Electrodes of this type, each coated with a thin platinum layer (about 1 nm) as a reaction catalyst, generated photocurrents much higher than those for Pt-coated n/sup +/ -p homojunction single-crystal Si electrodes, together with photovoltages nearly the same as those for the latter electrodes, clearly indicating the ''window'' effect of the n-type amorphous or microcrystalline Si layer. A photoelectrochemical cell equipped with a Si electrode of the present type and a Pt-plate counterelectrode, separated with a cation exchange membrane, photodecomposed hydrogen iodide into hydrogen and iodine with a solar-to-chemical conversion efficiency of 10.8% (air mass 1, 100 mW/cm/sup 2/ ), the highest of the efficiencies so far reported for the direct solar-to-chemical conversion without any externally applied voltage.
Research Organization:
Laboratory for Chemical Conversion of Solar Energy and Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, Osaka 560, Japan
OSTI ID:
7201210
Journal Information:
J. Appl. Phys.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Appl. Phys.; (United States) Vol. 64:3; ISSN JAPIA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
ALLOYS
AMORPHOUS STATE
BORON ADDITIONS
BORON ALLOYS
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL COATING
CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION
CHEMISTRY
COATINGS
CONVERSION
CRYSTAL DOPING
DEPOSITION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY STORAGE
FABRICATION
HETEROJUNCTIONS
JUNCTIONS
MATERIALS
METALS
P-N JUNCTIONS
P-TYPE CONDUCTORS
PHOSPHORUS ADDITIONS
PHOTOCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE
PHOTOCHEMISTRY
PHOTOELECTROMAGNETIC EFFECTS
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SEMIMETALS
SILICON
STORAGE
SURFACE COATING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS