International Journal of Photoenergy 

About: International Journal of Photoenergy is an academic journal published by Hindawi Publishing Corporation. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Photovoltaic system & Photocatalysis. It has an ISSN identifier of 1110-662X. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 2325 publications have been published receiving 39562 citations. The journal is also known as: IJP & Photoenergy.

Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells Based on

Abstract: Bismuth titanate (Bi4Ti3O12) particles were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment and nanoporous thin films were prepared on conducting glass substrates. The structures and morphologies of the samples were examined with X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope (SEM). Significant absorbance spectra emerged in visible region which indicated the efficient sensitization of Bi4Ti3O12 with N3 dye. Surface photovoltaic properties of the samples were investigated by surface photovoltage. The results further indicate that N3 can extend the photovoltaic response range of Bi4Ti3O12 nanoparticles to the visible region, which shows potential application in dye-sensitized solar cell. As a working electrode in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), the overall efficiency reached 0.48% after TiO2 modification.

Highly selective deethylation of rhodamine B: Adsorption and photooxidation pathways of the dye on the TiO2/SiO2 composite photocatalyst

Abstract: The photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) with TiO2 and TiO2/SiO2 in the aqueous dispersion was investigated under both the visible light (λg 480 nm) and UV irradiation. The detailed photocatalytic oxidative process of RhB under these different conditions was revealed by measurement of the isoelectric points of the catalysts, UV-VIS spectra, HPLC and LC-MS. RhB adsorbs on the surface of TiO2/SiO2 particles by the positively-charged diethylamino group while, in the case of net TiO2, it adsorbs through the negatively-charged carboxyl group under the experimental conditions (pH ∼ 4.3). In the RhB-TiO2/SiO2 system, RhB firstly underwent a highly selective stepwise deethylation process before the destruction of the chromophore structure under visible light irradiation. The average yield of the every deethylation step was higher than 86%. It is confirmed that visible light-induced photocatalytic degradation of dye proceeds on the surface of catalysts rather than in the bulk solution and active oxygen species preferentially attack the molecular portion that connects directly to the surface of catalysts. This work provides a possibility for the modification of the surface characteristics of TiO2 to adsorb effectively the special colored organic molecules in selective mode for selective modification or deeply extent photooxidation.

Photocatalytic Enhancement for Solar Disinfection of Water: A Review

Abstract: It is estimated that 884 million people lack access to improved water supplies. Many more are forced to rely on supplies that are microbiologically unsafe, resulting in a higher risk of waterborne diseases, including typhoid, hepatitis, polio, and cholera. Due to poor sanitation and lack of clean drinking water, there are around 4 billion cases of diarrhea each year resulting in 2.2 million deaths, most of these are children under five. While conventional interventions to improve water supplies are effective, there is increasing interest in household-based interventions to produce safe drinking water at an affordable cost for developing regions. Solar disinfection (SODIS) is a simple and low cost technique used to disinfect drinking water, where water is placed in transparent containers and exposed to sunlight for 6 hours. There are a number of parameters which affect the efficacy of SODIS, including the solar irradiance, the quality of the water, and the nature of the contamination. One approach to SODIS enhancement is the use of semiconductor photocatalysis to produce highly reactive species that can destroy organic pollutants and inactivate water pathogens. This paper presents a critical review concerning semiconductor photocatalysis as a potential enhancement technology for solar disinfection of water.

Visible-Light-Active Titania Photocatalysts: The Case of N-Doped s—Properties and Some Fundamental Issues

Abstract: This article briefly reviews some factors that have impacted heterogeneous photocatalysis with next generation photocatalysts, along with some issues of current debate in the fundamental understanding of the science that underpins the field. Preparative methods and some characteristics features of N-doped are presented and described briefly. At variance are experimental results and interpretations of X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) with regard to assignments of N 1s binding energies in N-doped systems. Relative to pristine nominally clean with absorption edges at 3.2 eV (anatase) and 3.0 eV (rutile), N-doped s display red-shifted absorption edges into the visible spectral region. Several workers have surmised that the (intrinsic) band gap of is narrowed by coupling dopant energy states with valence band (VB) states, an inference based on DFT computations. With similar DFT computations, others concluded that red-shifted absorption edges originate from the presence of localized intragap dopant states above the upper level of the VB band. Recent analyses of absorption spectral features in the visible region for a large number of doped specimens, however, have suggested a common origin owing to the strong similarities of the absorption features, and this regardless of the preparative methods and the nature of the dopants. The next generation of (doped) photocatalysts should enhance overall process photoefficiencies (in some cases), since doped s absorb a greater quantity of solar radiation. The fundamental science that underpins heterogeneous photocatalysis with the next generation of photocatalysts is a rich playing field ripe for further exploration.

A Comprehensive Review and Analysis of Solar Photovoltaic Array Configurations under Partial Shaded Conditions

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to investigate the effects of partial shading on energy output of different Solar Photovoltaic Array (SPVA) configurations and to mitigate the losses faced in Solar Photovoltaic (SPV) systems by incorporating bypass diodes. Owing to the practical difficulty of conducting experiments on varied array sizes, a generalized MATLAB M-code has been developed for any required array size, configuration, shading patterns, and number of bypass diodes. The proposed model which also includes the insolation-dependent shunt resistance can provide sufficient degree of precision without increasing the computational effort. All the configurations have been analyzed and comparative study is made for different random shading patterns to determine the configuration less susceptible to power losses under partial shading. Inferences have been drawn by testing several shading scenarios.