Nanotechnology Now - News Story: "Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production with swift heavy ion irradiation: Metal oxide semiconductor properties have been modified to achieve split water"

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May 21st, 2011

Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production with swift heavy ion irradiation: Metal oxide semiconductor properties have been modified to achieve split water

Abstract:
Conventional solar cells directly convert light to electricity. Alternatively, hydrogen production through splitting water in a photoelectrochemical cell has emerged as an advanced alternative to the conventional photovoltaic cell. The key limiting challenge in the process is to design a stable semiconductor electrode that, on exposure to sunlight, creates charge carriers that in turn produce hydrogen and oxygen.

The primary requirements for suitable semiconductor photo-electrodes are sufficient solar-energy absorption, high chemical stability, and favorable band edge positions with respect to water oxidation potential. Various strategies are used to tailor semiconductor properties to suit these requirements, such as doping, dye sensitization, fabricating heterostructures of different metal oxides, developing composite nanomaterials, and nanoarchitecture design. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance nevertheless remains less than ideal.

Source:
spie.org

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