Abstract
A photoelectrochemical system is presented which converts solar energy to both electrical and electrochemically stored energy. A decrease in cell illumination initiates spontaneous reconversion of electrochemical to electrical energy, providing nearly constant (light insensitive) electrical power for an external applied load. The cell contains a thin film Cd(Se,Te) photoelectrode and a thin film counterelectrode immersed in an aqueous polysulfide electrolyte separated by cation selective membrane from a tin electrode immersed in an aqueous sulfide electrolyte (Sn/S=). Cyclic voltammetry indicates that unlike tin/alkali systems, the Sn/S= half‐cell does not undergo passivation at storage potentials. Measured overpotentials in Sn/S= indicate large relative surface area tin electrodes can minimize polarization losses. Characterization of a variety of membranes indicates that a sulfonated polyethylene membrane minimizes problems of polysulfide passage into the tin/aqueous sulfide half‐cell. Photo and storage cell voltage compatibility is achieved by electrolyte modification and employing two photocells in series per tin half‐cell. A storage efficiency >90% can be achieved, and cell operation is limited by photo and not storage conversion efficiency. Two weeks outdoor operation yield an overall (conversion plus storage) solar to electrical efficiency of 2.7%.
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