Photoelectrochemcal properties of ZrxTi1−xNb2O7 mixed oxides

Abstract: A brief survey of the historical development of a photoelectrochemical solar cell is given. The principle and future of solar chargeable battery is compared with a wet and a dry type photovoltaic cell. A solar chargeable battery, with or without a membrane and with an aqueous solution or with solid-state electrolytes is discussed. A new unique type of configuration “Sharon-Schottky” junction solar cell is described which can be used either as a charger for any secondary batteries or could be used for photoelectrolysis of water. All these configurations and their relative merits are discussed. A review on the various semiconductors and types of solar chargeable batteries is made. Finally, a conclusion is drawn for future direction of research for developing an economically viable photoelectrochemical (PEC) solar cell based on either the principle of a solar charger (to charge a Ni---Cd battery or lead—acid battery) and/or solar chargeable battery with or without without a membrane. Some new innovative ideas for the preparation of materials is discussed. The entire discussion is geared towards answering a relevant question: what has gone wrong to result in the stagnation and failure in commercialization of a PEC based solar cell?

Abstract: ALTHOUGH the possibility of water photolysis has been investigated by many workers, a useful method has only now been developed. Because water is transparent to visible light it cannot be decomposed directly, but only by radiation with wavelengths shorter than 190 nm (ref. 1).

Abstract: The electrochemical properties of semiconducting anodes of TiO2, SrTiO3, BaTiO3, Fe2O3, CdO, CdFe2O4, WO3, PbFe12O19, Pb2Ti1.5W0.5O6.5, Hg2Ta2O7, and Hg2Nb2O7 in photoassisted electrolysis of water were determined. All of these oxides formed a rectifying junction with the electrolyte and anodic photocurrents were generated only with larger‐than‐band‐gap illumination. For Fe2O3, the optical absorption spectrum was different from the photoelectrochemical spectrum due to crystal field transitions. These oxides were found to be stable over certain range of pH. In a given electrolyte, the flatband potential Vfb varied linearly with the band gap. A good correlation was obtained between Vfb and the heat of formation of the oxide per metal atom per metal‐oxygen bond, but not between Vfb and the calculated Fermi energy of the oxide. This suggests that a semiconductor‐electrolyte interface may be approximated by a semiconductor‐metal junction where the barrier height is determined by the heat of formation of the me...

Abstract: N-type tungsten trioxide is shown to be a stable semiconducting anode for the photoelectrolysis of water. A band gap of 2.7 eV provides a factor of three increase in the utilizable solar spectrum as compared to TiO 2 .

Abstract: The photoelectrochemical properties and the diffuse reflection spectrum of MgTiO3 are reported. MgTiO3 shows an optical absorption edge' near 3.7 eV. This makes the material unsuitable for solar energy applications. The diffuse reflection spectra of CoTiO3 and MnTiO3 are presented. The optical absorption edge shifts to lower energy due to the occurrence of Me2+ → Ti4+ charge-transfer transitions. For various reasons discussed no photocurrents were observed for CoTiO3 and MnTiO3.