Photoelectrochemical materials for solar energy conversion

O’Donnell, Shaun; Chestnut, Jessica; Pauly, Magnus; Maggard, Paul A. [North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)]

doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-823144-9.00087-x

DOE OSTI · 2802959

Photoelectrochemical materials for solar energy conversion

O’Donnell, Shaun·Chestnut, Jessica·Pauly, Magnus·Maggard, Paul A. [North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)]

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Abstract

Research and development on semiconductors for applications in solar energy conversion has witnessed rapid growth over the past several decades. With the aim of producing chemical fuels from sunlight, intense research efforts have focused on the discovery of semiconductors with crystalline structures and chemical compositions that have the potential to satisfy the complex set of required photoelectrochemical properties. This chapter focuses on the foundational structure-property relationships of selected oxide and nitride semiconductors relevant to their uses as n-/p-type photoelectrodes and as photocatalysts. Their solid-state structures and compositions are described, with a special emphasis on strategies proven effective at targeting suitable band gaps with strong visible-light absorption, efficient charge separation and diffusion of charge carriers, and optimal band edge energies for driving surface redox reactions for water splitting.

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O’Donnell, Shaun, Chestnut, Jessica, Pauly, Magnus, Maggard, Paul A. [North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (United States)]. 2023-01-01. Photoelectrochemical materials for solar energy conversion. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-823144-9.00087-x

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