Abstract
The physical processes involved in the conversion of radiant energy to electrical and/or chemical energy in a semiconductor-electrolyte cell are described. These processes are then related to the problem of solar energy conversion and the desirable characteristics of such a cell are defined and potential efficiency of the device is shown to be comparable to that of a p-n junction solar cell. Preliminary measurements on a CdS cell gave 4·6 per cent external conversion efficiency for monochromatic excitation at an incident power density of 0·4 mW/cm2. When known internal device loss mechanisms were accounted for, a calculated 25 per cent conversion efficiency at the semiconductor electrode was obtained for the same monochromatic excitation.Electrode corrosion is shown to be the main obstacle to use of the Becquerel photovoltaic effect in a practical energy conversion device. Noncorrosive electrode reactions and charge exchange processes are known and may be of use.
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