Infrared light induced photoelectrocatalytic application via graphene oxide coated thermoelectric device

The infrared light, accounting for almost half of the sun light, has not been utilized effectively by traditional semiconductor-based solar energy conversion technology that is mainly active in the region from ultraviolet to visible light. Thermoelectric device coupled with infrared-active photothermal material provides a unique way to convert the infrared light into electricity. Here we designed a new strategy by coating graphene oxide on a thermoelectric device to realize infrared light generated electricity. By this approach, we successfully achieved harvesting infrared-generated photo-voltage to improve the efficiency of solar light driven photocatalysis via a photoelectrocatalytic process. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.