A quantitative analysis of the efficiency of solar-driven water-splitting device designs based on tandem photoabsorbers patterned with islands of metallic electrocatalysts

Abstract

Optical obscuration and kinetic overpotentials of patterned electrocatalyst films are investigated using a 0-dimentional load-line analysis and experimental measurements.

Functional integration of Ni–Mo electrocatalysts with Si microwire array photocathodes to simultaneously achieve high fill factors and light-limited photocurrent densities for solar-driven hydrogen evolution

“…4 Yet another method involves optimization of the spatial location and areal coverage of islands of an active, but optically absorbing electrocatalyst film, by use of a photolithographic or shadow mask. 13 This approach is analogous to the use of grid-line top contacts in photovoltaics.…”

Protection of inorganic semiconductors for sustained, efficient photoelectrochemical water oxidation

“…However, such an approach is more feasible for photovoltaic cells, in which both the chemical stability in strong acid/base and the electrical conductivity of the coating are secondary concerns. As part of the "SABOR" criteria, these two parameters are important to consider unless a strategy with a patterned catalyst design can be implemented, in which the conductivity requirements of the protection/antireflection coating can be relaxed [75]. Moreover, no universal antireflection material is available for different semiconductor light absorbers, due to their variation in 23 refractive index.…”

A Computational Study of Optically Concentrating, Solar-Fuels Generators from Annual Thermal- and Fuel-Production Efficiency Perspectives

“…Wireless CPECs with triple-junction PV cells and a CR of 10 are simulated throughout the year, which extends the work by other researchers. [24][25][26] This manuscript uses some and builds upon the modeling approaches followed by Haussener et al 9 and Chen et al, 10 but includes physics absent in those models. By identifying bottlenecks to deploying CPECs from thermal stability and η STH standpoints, the engineering advances necessary for PEC deployment can be made simultaneously with the necessary advances in basic photoelectrochemical science.…”

“…51 Clearly, however, increasing the light transmission ratio beyond 72% for all junctions would be preferable, and this could potentially be realized by using patterned catalysts, as mentioned elsewhere. 24 Additionally, while this system is able to overcome the poor performance of the bottom junction under standard AM 1.5 illumination profiles, actual spectral insolation profiles vary on an hourly, seasonal and locational basis. 52 Thus, future work should address this concern, where the results presented herein can be considered a best-case scenario for these locations.…”

“…The use of a catalyst such as Ni-Mo would allow for the general design currently envisioned here. 61 Alternatively, Ni catalyst islands could be utilized to allow light transmission while using opaque layers of catalyst, 24 though this would prevent the analytical solution of ohmic potential drop in the electrolyte with the relations used herein. 41 The predictions of this model would also be improved via experimental validation, which is left to future study as no prototypes currently exist that operate for this lifetime.…”