Solar Conversion Applications Research Articles

Photoelectrochemical evaluation of undoped and C-doped CdIn 2O 4 thin film electrodes

Undoped and C-doped cadmium indate (CdIn 2O 4) thin films and powders were synthesized, characterized, and evaluated for photoelectrochemical water splitting. Both undoped and C-doped CdIn 2O 4 samples have cubic lattices, and the presence of carbonate-type species was confirmed in the C-doped sample by XPS. Doping C into CdIn 2O 4 leads to a red shift (but no separate peak) in light absorption and band gap narrowing. The photocurrent densities of CdIn 2O 4 electrodes are at least three-fold greater than either CdO or In 2O 3 electrodes with equivalent film thickness. Carbon doping further improved the photocurrent densities by 33%. The photoelectrochemical performance of C-doped CdIn 2O 4 was optimized with respect to several synthetic parameters, including the C:In molar ratio and glucose concentration in the spray precursor solution, the calcination temperature, and the film thickness. The present work shows that CdIn 2O 4 is a promising photocatalyst and can be suitably doped to improve the electrochemical properties for solar conversion applications.

Electrode materials for the photoelectrolysis of water

There has recently been a renewed interest in photoelectrochemical processes at semiconductor-electrolyte interfaces for possible applications in solar conversion. In particular, the photoelectrolysis of water by sunlight in electrochemical cells to produce the fuel H 2 has resulted in considerable research. In this paper, the concepts of photoelectrolysis are used as a guide for deriving the physical and chemical properties necessary for materials to be efficient electrodes in such cells. Presently available materials are considered in this context along with prospects for the future.