Solar
cells and fuel cells are essential devices that convert sustainable
energy into electricity. However, the electromotive forces they provide
are in principle limited to less than 1 V, and consequently, they
need to be connected in series for practical use. In this study, photocatalyst
layers with thicknesses of 0.8–2.1 μm were applied to
both electrodes. The primary particle size of TiO2 was
optimized (15–21 nm), and its performance was further improved
by doping with organic dyes, e.g., anthocyanins. The electron conductivity
of TiO2 was found to be a primary factor in the performance
of the cells, but the film flatness also reduced resistance and improved
cell performance. Interestingly, the efficiency of TiO2 could be evaluated based on the exchangeable surface O atoms via
its 18O2 exchange tests to suppress the reverse
reaction step in water photo-oxidation, which occurs on the anode.
UV and visible light were absorbed by TiO2 and the organic
dyes, respectively, creating an electron flow path from the valence
band to the conduction band of TiO2, then, the highest
occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to the lowest unoccupied molecular
orbital (LUMO) of the organic dyes, then the anode, and finally the
cathode via the external circuit. The flow of electrons and holes
(separated from electrons in BiOCl on the cathode by UV–visible
light) enabled a V
OC value of 2.11 V and
maximum power of 73.1 μW cm–2.
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