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A Photoelectrochemical Solar Cell Consisting of a Cadmium Sulfide Photoanode and a Ruthenium–2,2′‐Bipyridine Redox Shuttle in a Non‐aqueous Electrolyte
Author(s) -
Kageshima Yosuke,
Kumagai Hiromu,
Minegishi Tsutomu,
Kubota Jun,
Domen Kazunari
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201502586
Subject(s) - ruthenium , redox , cadmium sulfide , photoelectrochemical cell , water splitting , chemistry , electrolysis , electrolysis of water , aqueous solution , open circuit voltage , electrolyte , inorganic chemistry , 2,2' bipyridine , auxiliary electrode , photochemistry , electrode , photocatalysis , catalysis , crystal structure , crystallography , voltage , physics , quantum mechanics , biochemistry
Abstract 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 ( V OC ) than the onset voltage for water splitting. A V OC of 1.48 V and a short‐circuit current ( I 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 V OC and I SC . The obtained V OC was more than the onset voltage of water electrolysis for hydrogen and oxygen generation, suggesting prospects for application in water electrolysis.