Description: a-Si:H/µc-Si:H tandem junction based photocathodes with high open-circuit voltage for efficient hydrogen production

This title appears in the Scientific Report : 2014

a-Si:H/µc-Si:H tandem junction based photocathodes with high open-circuit voltage for efficient hydrogen production

Thin film silicon tandem junction solar cells based on amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and microcrystalline silicon (µc-Si:H) were developed with focus on high open-circuit voltages for the application as photocathodes in integrated photoelectrochemical cells for water electrolysis. By adjusting various...

Personal Name(s):	Urbain, Félix (Corresponding Author)
	Smirnov, Vladimir / Becker, Jan Philipp / Rau, Uwe / Finger, Friedhelm / Ziegler, Jürgen / Kaiser, Bernhard / Jaegermann, Wolfram
Contributing Institute:	Photovoltaik; IEK-5
Published in:	Journal of materials research, 29 (2014) 22, S. 2605 - 2614
Imprint:	Warrendale, Pa. MRS 2014
DOI:	10.1557/jmr.2014.308
Document Type:	Journal Article
Research Program:	Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training in Energy and Climate Research (HITEC) Thin Film Photovoltaics
Link:	OpenAccess
	Publikationsportal JuSER

Please use the identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/8106 in citations.
Please use the identifier: http://dx.doi.org/10.1557/jmr.2014.308 in citations.

Thin film silicon tandem junction solar cells based on amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and microcrystalline silicon (µc-Si:H) were developed with focus on high open-circuit voltages for the application as photocathodes in integrated photoelectrochemical cells for water electrolysis. By adjusting various parameters in the plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition process of the individual µc-Si:H single junction solar cells, we showed that a-Si:H/µc-Si:H tandem junction solar cells exhibit open-circuit voltage over 1.5 V with solar energy conversion efficiency of 11% at a total silicon layer thickness below 1 µm. Our approach included thickness reduction, controlled SiH4 profiling, and incorporation of intrinsic interface buffer layers. The applicability of the tandem devices as photocathodes was evaluated in a photoelectrochemical cell. The a-Si:H/µc-Si:H based photocathodes exhibit a photocurrent onset potential of 1.3 V versus RHE and a short-circuit photocurrent of 10.0 mA/cm2. The presented approach may provide an efficient and low-cost pathway to solar hydrogen production.