PEChouse: Photoelectrochemical watersplitting for solar production of hydrogen - basic resarch and initiation of a centre

• Forschungsstelle: BFE
• Projektnummer: 102326
• Projekttitel Englisch: PEChouse: Photoelectrochemical watersplitting for solar production of hydrogen - basic resarch and initiation of a centre

Publikationen / Ergebnisse (Englisch)

PECHouse, the photoelectrochemistry centre of competence at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL), has been established to advance the technology of semiconductor-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting to produce H2 and O2 using sunlight as the energy input. The overall objective of the research is to design and develop novel semiconductor-based materials capable of harvesting and converting solar energy into chemical energy by oxidation of water into oxygen and hydrogen. Since its inception nine months ago PECHouse research activities have centered on assembling tools and techniques for the development of the next generation of photoelectrochemical technology, alongside furthering the development of the state-of-the-art α-Fe2O3 photoanodes conceived by EPFL. Here we present the midterm 2008 results on the centre’s development as well as describe current research efforts with iron oxide photoanodes. Three specific project deliverables are also satisfied by presenting results with our new deposition equipment, identifying the most promising underlayer materials for iron oxide photoanodes, and reporting on the progress of new materials and techniques under development for the second phase of the research activities.

Auftragnehmer/Contractant/Contraente/Contractor:
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

Autorschaft/Auteurs/Autori/Authors:
Grätzel,Michael

Zugehörige Dokumente

• PEC HOUSE - A Competence Center Devoted to the Photoelectrochemical Splitting of Water and Production of Hydrogen - Annual Report 2007 [PDF] 219 kB
• PEC HOUSE - A Competence Center Devoted to the Photoelectrochemical Splitting of Water and Production of Hydrogen - Midyear Report 2008 [PDF] 1'472 kB

Schlussbericht (Englisch)

PECHouse, the photoelectrochemistry centre of competence at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne (EPFL), has been established to advance the technology of semi-conductor-based photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting to produce H2 and O2 using sunlight as the energy input. The overall objective of the research is to design and develop novel semiconductor-based materials capable of harvesting and converting solar energy into chemical energy by oxidation of water into oxygen and reduction into hydrogen. Since its inception in September 2007, PECHouse research activities have centered on assembling tools and techniques for the development of the next generation of photoelectrochemical technology, alongside furthering the development of the state-of-the-art α-Fe2O3 photoa-nodes conceived at EPFL. Here we present the results from 2011 on our recent research accomplishments. Specifically, for WP1 we present results of new world-record benchmark photocurrent performance with colloidal Fe2O3 photoanodes. Further, we present a study of surface treatments that affect the overpotential as well as plateau photocurrents. For WP2, progress in development of the host/guest approach for photoanodes is presented. Finally, we report breakthrough results on the photoactivity and stability of a Cu2O photocathodes for hydrogen production. Key data from previous years are summarized throughout this final report to give an overview of the entire PECHouse project.

Auftragnehmer/Contractant/Contraente/Contractor:
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne EPFL

Autorschaft/Auteurs/Autori/Authors:

Zugehörige Dokumente

• PECHouse | A Competence Center Devoted to the Photoelectrochemical Splitting of Water and Production of Hydrogen - Schlussbericht [PDF] 886 kB