A Photoelectrochemical Solar Cell Consisting of a Cadmium Sulfide Photoanode and a Ruthenium–2, 2′‐Bipyridine Redox Shuttle in a Non‐aqueous Electrolyte1. Issue 27 (27th May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kageshima, Yosuke; Kumagai, Hiromu; Minegishi, Tsutomu; Kubota, Jun; Domen, Kazunari
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie international edition. Volume 54:Issue 27(2015)
• Page Start: 7877
• Page End: 7881
• Publication Date: 2015-05-27
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/anie.201502586
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1433-7851

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell consisting of an n‐type CdS single‐crystal electrode and a Pt counter electrode with the ruthenium–2, 2′‐bipyridine complex [Ru(bpy)₃]^2+/3+ as the redox shuttle in a non‐aqueous electrolyte was studied to obtain a higher open‐circuit voltage (<italic>V</italic>_OC) than the onset voltage for water splitting. A <italic>V</italic>_OC of 1.48 V and a short‐circuit current (<italic>I</italic>_SC) of 3.88 mA cm⁻² were obtained under irradiation by a 300 W Xe lamp with 420–800 nm visible light. This relatively high voltage was presumably due to the difference between the Fermi level of photo‐irradiated n‐type CdS and the redox potential of the Ru complex at the Pt electrode. The smooth redox reaction of the Ru complex with one‐electron transfer was thought to have contributed to the high <italic>V</italic>_OC and <italic>I</italic>_SC. The obtained <italic>V</italic>_OC was more than the onset voltage of water electrolysis for hydrogen and oxygen generation, suggesting prospects for application in water electrolysis.</p> </abstract>