No abstract

A model for the operation of a working photoelectrochemical reactor has been developed and implemented, using the COMSOL Multiphysics TM modeling package. The model incorporates the detailed design of the practical reactor developed to use a 0.01 m 2 Fe 2 O 3 photoelectrode. Initial modeling was used to analyze electrolyte flow within the reactor and recommend modifications to the reactor design. Results indicate that improvements to flow uniformity could be achieved with some minor internal changes. Modeling results confirmed that, under normal operating conditions, bubble formation occurs across the whole photoanode and potentially fills a dead zone in the reactor. The effect of the sheet resistance of the transparent conducting oxide substrate (fluorine-doped tin oxide) on potential and current distribution across the photoanode has also been calculated. This shows that for the 0.01 m 2 photoanode used in this work, potential drop across the photoanode results in large areas of the photoanode becoming inactive to oxygen evolution.