Platinum Nanoparticle Decorated Silicon Nanowires for Efficient Solar Energy Conversion

High-density aligned n-type silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays decorated with discrete 5-10 nm platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) have been fabricated by aqueous electroless Si etching followed by an electroless platinum deposition process. Coating of PtNPs on SiNW sidewalls yielded a substantial enhancement in photoconversion efficiency and an apparent energy conversion efficiency of up to 8.14% for the PtNP-decorated SiNW-based photoelectrochemical solar cell using a liquid electrolyte containing Br-/Br-2 redox couple. The results demonstrate PtNP-decorated SiNWs to be a promising hybrid system for solar energy conversion.