|
|
|
| Abstract Title:
|
| Novel Electrode Materials for Photoelectrochemical Solar Cells
|
| Graduate Student Presenter:
|
Dan Esposito
|
| Name of the Author(s) and Affiliation(s):
|
Dan Esposito, Dept of Chemical Eng., Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC); Kevin Dobson, IEC; Brian McCandless, IEC.; Christiana Honsberg, Dept. of Electrical Eng.; Robert Birkmire, IEC; Jingguang G. Chen, Dept. of Chemical Eng.;
|
Solar Hydrogen IGERT Program, University of Delaware
When obtained from the electrolysis of water powered by energy from the sun, hydrogen represents a carbon-free energy carrier derived from two of the world’s most abundant resources. Despite its many positive attributes, solar generated hydrogen has not become ubiquitous owing to numerous inefficiencies and subsequent high costs associated with it. The aim of the Solar Hydrogen IGERT program is to understand and address the scientific, technological, and policy challenges associated with making solar hydrogen a realistic energy solution.
My research is centered on photoelectrochemical solar cells (PECs), devices that have great potential for use in a solar-hydrogen based energy system. PECs are electrochemical devices which are capable of converting the sun’s energy into either electrical (Figure 1, Box 1) or chemical energy such as hydrogen (Figure 1, Box 2). As with other components of the solar-hydrogen system, PECs have suffered from low efficiencies and high costs. The goal of my research is to explore the use of novel PEC counter electrode (CE) materials that are stable, efficient, and low-cost. Initial research has focused on the use of tungsten monocarbide (WC) as a CE material in an aqueous polysulfide based PEC system. Surface science and electroanalytical work performed to date have shown that WC electrodes are stable and have a higher catalytic activity than commonly used but expensive platinum electrodes in the polysulfide electrolyte.
|
|
|
