Metal Filmed-Semiconductor Photoelectrochemical Cells

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Abstract
Voltammetric and light to electrical energy conversion characteristics of metallized semiconductor Schottky junctions with redox solution contacts are reported. Electrodeposited noble metal films on establish contacts to reversible aqueous redox couple solutions that can sustain solar photocurrent levels with low loss, requiring only a thin metal layer adequate to photovoltaic barrier formation. Possible advantages in lateral conductivity, relative to solid‐state Schottky devices, and in surface stability and redox electrolyte independence, relative to semiconductor‐liquid junction solar cells, are weighed against both the absorptive losses in the metal layer and the practicalities of obtaining sufficient integrity in the film to serve the semiconductor corrosion protection function. Gold, platinum, and rhodium plated with carbon counter‐electrodes and ferro‐ferricyanide solutions give 2–6% conversion efficiency under solar irradiance.

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