Improved solar energy conversion efficiencies for the photocatalytic production of hydrogen via TiO/sub 2/ semiconductor electrodes

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1976 · Mater. Res. Bull.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0025-5408(76)90020-9· OSTI ID:7333378

Houlihan, J F ^[1]; Madacsi, D P; Walsh, E J; Mulay, L N

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1. Pennsylvania State Univ., Sharon

Overall solar energy conversion efficiencies of at least 0.8 percent, somewhat greater than those previously reported, have been obtained in the photocatalytic production of hydrogen using TiO/sub 2/ semiconductor electrodes prepared by heat treatment of titanium metal foils. A shift in the threshold frequency for hydrogen evolution toward energies slightly lower than the 3.02 eV bandgap of TiO/sub 2/ was observed for some of these electrodes. This result supports the possibility of utilizing a greater portion of the solar spectrum, thereby increasing overall conversion efficiency even further. A tentative explanation of this shift involves the presence of mixed phases of the titanium--oxygen system (Magneli phases) in the semiconducting film.

• OSTI ID: 7333378
• Journal Information: Mater. Res. Bull.; (United States), Vol. 11:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
14 SOLAR ENERGY
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
EFFICIENCY
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
TITANIUM OXIDES
USES
CATALYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
PHOTOLYSIS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY CONVERSION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
TITANIUM COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
080100* - Hydrogen- Production
140500 - Solar Energy Conversion