Photoelectrolysis of water at high current density: Use of ultraviolet laser excitation

Andrew Bruce Bocarsly; Jeffrey M. Bolts; Phillip G. Cummins; Mark S. Wrighton

doi:10.1063/1.89809

Photoelectrolysis of water at high current density: Use of ultraviolet laser excitation

Andrew Bruce Bocarsly, Jeffrey M. Bolts, Phillip G. Cummins, Mark S. Wrighton

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Abstract

The behavior of TiO₂ and SrTiO₃ photoanodes in cells for the photoelectrolysis of H₂O has been investigated for high-intensity 351 364-nm excitation from an Ar ion laser. Intensities up to 380 W/cm² have been used. For TiO₂ a small amount of surface decomposition is found after irradiation at high intensity, whereas SrTiO ₃ undergoes no detectable changes. Current-voltage properties for both electrodes are essentially independent of light intensity up to the level of 380 W/cm², and there is little if any change in quantum efficiency for electron flow. Photocurrent densities have been shown to exceed 5 A/cm ² for O₂ evolution. Data show that the energy storage rate associated with the SrTiO₃ photoelectrolysis can exceed 30 W/cm ²; this represents the highest demonstrated rate of sustained optical to chemical energy conversion.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	568-570
Number of pages	3
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	31
Issue number	9
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.89809
State	Published - 1977

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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10.1063/1.89809

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@article{d62735f43b2641c89d856dc56c67f44d,

title = "Photoelectrolysis of water at high current density: Use of ultraviolet laser excitation",

abstract = "The behavior of TiO2 and SrTiO3 photoanodes in cells for the photoelectrolysis of H2O has been investigated for high-intensity 351 364-nm excitation from an Ar ion laser. Intensities up to 380 W/cm2 have been used. For TiO2 a small amount of surface decomposition is found after irradiation at high intensity, whereas SrTiO 3 undergoes no detectable changes. Current-voltage properties for both electrodes are essentially independent of light intensity up to the level of 380 W/cm2, and there is little if any change in quantum efficiency for electron flow. Photocurrent densities have been shown to exceed 5 A/cm 2 for O2 evolution. Data show that the energy storage rate associated with the SrTiO3 photoelectrolysis can exceed 30 W/cm 2; this represents the highest demonstrated rate of sustained optical to chemical energy conversion.",

author = "Bocarsly, {Andrew Bruce} and Bolts, {Jeffrey M.} and Cummins, {Phillip G.} and Wrighton, {Mark S.}",

year = "1977",

doi = "10.1063/1.89809",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "31",

pages = "568--570",

journal = "Applied Physics Letters",

issn = "0003-6951",

publisher = "American Institute of Physics",

number = "9",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Photoelectrolysis of water at high current density

T2 - Use of ultraviolet laser excitation

AU - Bocarsly, Andrew Bruce

AU - Bolts, Jeffrey M.

AU - Cummins, Phillip G.

AU - Wrighton, Mark S.

PY - 1977

Y1 - 1977

N2 - The behavior of TiO2 and SrTiO3 photoanodes in cells for the photoelectrolysis of H2O has been investigated for high-intensity 351 364-nm excitation from an Ar ion laser. Intensities up to 380 W/cm2 have been used. For TiO2 a small amount of surface decomposition is found after irradiation at high intensity, whereas SrTiO 3 undergoes no detectable changes. Current-voltage properties for both electrodes are essentially independent of light intensity up to the level of 380 W/cm2, and there is little if any change in quantum efficiency for electron flow. Photocurrent densities have been shown to exceed 5 A/cm 2 for O2 evolution. Data show that the energy storage rate associated with the SrTiO3 photoelectrolysis can exceed 30 W/cm 2; this represents the highest demonstrated rate of sustained optical to chemical energy conversion.

AB - The behavior of TiO2 and SrTiO3 photoanodes in cells for the photoelectrolysis of H2O has been investigated for high-intensity 351 364-nm excitation from an Ar ion laser. Intensities up to 380 W/cm2 have been used. For TiO2 a small amount of surface decomposition is found after irradiation at high intensity, whereas SrTiO 3 undergoes no detectable changes. Current-voltage properties for both electrodes are essentially independent of light intensity up to the level of 380 W/cm2, and there is little if any change in quantum efficiency for electron flow. Photocurrent densities have been shown to exceed 5 A/cm 2 for O2 evolution. Data show that the energy storage rate associated with the SrTiO3 photoelectrolysis can exceed 30 W/cm 2; this represents the highest demonstrated rate of sustained optical to chemical energy conversion.

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JO - Applied Physics Letters

JF - Applied Physics Letters

IS - 9

ER -

Photoelectrolysis of water at high current density: Use of ultraviolet laser excitation

Abstract

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