‘Surface-Modification’ and ‘Composite-Engineering’ of Metal Chalcogenide Electrodes for Solar Hydrogen Production
A. Pareek, P.H. Borse
Solar energy is the future fuel and an apt solution for energy related concerns. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells can channelize solar energy directly into chemical energy and provide a useful fuel in the form of hydrogen. Exploring an efficient semiconductor material for such purpose is an essential prospect. This chapter highlights the importance of Cd chalcogenides in this technology. CdS is the most studied material for PEC research, possess perfect band gap, and band edge position as required for the desired photoanode material in the PEC cell. The efficiency of CdS photoanode can be improved specially by; (i) tuning of the electronic band structure of electrode lattice via. doping, and by (ii) electrode surface modification by utilizing metal-oxide nanoparticles or by loading of co-catalyst. Effect of modification of CdS photoanodes, with earth abundant transition metal hydroxide co-catalysts, on the PEC performance is reviewed.
Keywords
Solar, Hydrogen Energy, Surface Modification, Electrode, Photoelectrochemical, Chalcogenides
Published online 2/25/2018, 23 pages
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21741/9781945291593-8
Part of Photocatalytic Nanomaterials for Environmental Applications
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