Quantifying Photocurrent Loss of a Single Particle–Particle Interface in Nanostructured Photoelectrodes
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: Particle–particle interfaces are ubiquitous in nanostructured photoelectrodes and photovoltaics, which are important devices for solar energy conversion. These interfaces are expected to cause performance losses in these devices, but how much loss they would incur is poorly defined. Here we use a subparticle photoelectrochemical current measurement, in combination with specific photoelectrode configurations, to quantify the current losses from single particle–particle interfaces formed between individual TiO 2 nanorods operating as photoanodes in aqueous electrolytes. We find that a single interface leads to ∼20% photocurrent loss (i.e., ∼80% retention of the original current). Such quantitative, first-of-its-kind, information provides a metric for guiding the optimization and design of nanostructured photoelectrodes and photovoltaics.
Source: Nano Letters
Institution: Cornell University
Language: English
Field: Energy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2910829925