Surface modification of semiconductor photoelectrode for improved solar cell performance

The investigation is focused on the synthesis of nanostructured TiO2–CuO admixed photoelectrode and its use as a photoelectrode of high-efficiency PEC solar cells for hydrogen production. TiO2, in the nanostructured form, has been prepared by hydrolysis of titanium(IV) isopropoxide solution. An improvement in the nanostructured TiO2 photoelectrode carried out in the present work corresponds to admixing CuO to improve the spectral response. In the present study, photo-electrochemical (PEC) and hydrogen evolution characteristics of new types of ns-TiO2–CuO admixed/Ti septum-based semiconductor septum photo-electrochemical (SC-SEP PEC) solar cell has been studied. The CuO admixed ns-TiO2 exhibited a high photocurrent and photovoltage of 18.6 mA/cm2 and 680 mV, respectively. The ns-TiO2–CuO electrode exhibited a higher hydrogen gas evolution rate of 14.00 l/h m2.