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Copper Chalcopyrite Film Photocathodes for Direct Solar-Powered Water Splitting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 February 2011

Bjorn Marsen ,
Susanne Dorn ,
Brian Cole ,
Richard E. Rocheleau  and
Eric L. Miller
Bjorn Marsen
Affiliation:
marsen@hawaii.edu, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, 1680 East-West Road, POST 109, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
Susanne Dorn
Affiliation:
sdorn@hawaii.edu, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
Brian Cole
Affiliation:
bcole@hawaii.edu, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
Richard E. Rocheleau
Affiliation:
rochelea@hawaii.edu, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
Eric L. Miller
Affiliation:
ericm@hawaii.edu, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hawaii Natural Energy Institute, 1680 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI, 96822, United States
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Abstract

In search of an efficient semiconductor material for direct photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen production, chalcopyrite films in the Cu(In,Ga)Se2 system (CIGS) with bandgaps of 1.3-1.65 eV have been evaluated. The films have been fabricated by 2-stage and 3-stage co-evaporation processes. Film samples have been fabricated into CIGS/CdS solar cells for evaluation of solid-state device properties, and into CIGS photocathodes for evaluation of the photoelectrochemical hydrogen-production characteristics. The PEC current-potential scans of the photocathodes in 0.5M sulfuric acid show photocurrents of 18-27 mA/cm2 under simulated AM1.5 global light (100 mA/cm2) at sufficient cathodic potential bias. In terms of fill factor of the photocurrent curves, electrodes with molybdenum back contact are superior to SnO2:F back contact because of better conductivity. The morphology as seen in scanning electron micrographs is unchanged after initial PEC testing in the cathodic regime, suggesting films are stable.

Keywords

photochemicaloptoelectroniccompound
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 974: Symposium CC – Solar Energy Conversion , 2006 , 0974-CC09-05
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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