Journal
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
Volume 9, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45672-4
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Funding
- National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) - Korea government (MSIP) [2017R1A2B3006941]
- International Collaborative Energy Technology R&D Program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP)
- Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea [20168520011370]
- Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT) [20168520011370] Funding Source: Korea Institute of Science & Technology Information (KISTI), National Science & Technology Information Service (NTIS)
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The use of a photoelectrochemical device is an efficient method of converting solar energy into hydrogen fuel via water splitting reactions. One of the best photoelectrode materials is Si, which absorbs a broad wavelength range of incident light and produces a high photocurrent level (similar to 44 mA.cm(-2)). However, the maximum photovoltage that can be generated in single-junction Si devices (similar to 0.75 V) is much lower than the voltage required for a water splitting reaction (> 1.6 V). In addition, the Si surface is electrochemically oxidized or reduced when it comes into direct contact with the aqueous electrolyte. Here, we propose the hybridization of the photoelectrochemical device with a thermoelectric device, where the Seebeck voltage generated by the thermal energy triggers the self-biased water splitting reaction without compromising the photocurrent level at 42 mA cm(-2). In this hybrid device p-Si, where the surface is protected by HfOx/SiOx bilayers, is used as a photocathode. The HfOx exhibits high corrosion resistance and protection ability, thereby ensuring stability. On applying the Seebeck voltage, the tunneling barrier of HfOx is placed at a negligible energy level in the electron transfer from Si to the electrolyte, showing charge transfer kinetics independent of the HfOx thickness. These findings serve as a proof-of-concept of the stable and high-efficiency production of hydrogen fuel by the photoelectrochemical-thermoelectric hybrid devices.
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