PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELL USING SiC FOR WATER SPLITTING

Abstract

Abstract Photoelectrochemical cell using silicon carbide and Pt electrodes can split water into H2 and O2 without any external bias. Maximum photovoltage was ca. 0.45 V for a <p-SiC/H2O/Pt> photocell and 2.2V for a <p-SiC/H2O/n-SiC> photocell. Energy conversion efficiency to H2 was ca. 0.4% for irradiation with a 500 W Xe lamp.