Development of a photoelectrochemical cell using III-V nitrides

Abstract

Hydrogen production through Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a source of clean and sustainable energy. Current energy production through the use of fossil fuels is rapidly depleting reserves and had been a direct cause of climate change. III-V nitrides offer a unique solution due to the variable band gap seen in Indium Gallium Nitride, which allows the semiconductor to capture the full spectrum of light by varying the quantities of Indium in the layer. In this work, different types of III-V were used as both photoanodes and photocathodes for the development of a III-V Nitride PEC cell. In addition, NaC1 was added to the electrolyte to act as simulated ocean water to reduce the cost of production for the cells, as current processes requires the use of distilled water for electrolyte preparation. Samples were grown in a custom built Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD) reactor using a Flow Modulated Epitaxy (FME) method. Samples were tested in an acidic, neutral based PEC cells. In addition to III-V nitride photoelectrodes, Zinc Oxide layers created through dip coating were also tested. [...]