Provided is a photocathode structure including: a photocathode including silicon (Si); an intermediate layer formed on the photocathode, and including a silicon oxide (SiO.sub.x); and a protective layer foiled on the intermediate layer, and including a metal oxide, wherein the intermediate layer is a tunneling barrier configured to transfer charges from the photocathode to the protective layer by an electric field applied from an outside.

Provided is a photocathode structure including: a photocathode including silicon (Si); an intermediate layer formed on the photocathode, and including a silicon oxide (SiO.sub.x); and a protective layer foiled on the intermediate layer, and including a metal oxide, wherein the intermediate layer is a tunneling barrier configured to transfer charges from the photocathode to the protective layer by an electric field applied from an outside.

A radiation-assisted (typically solar-assisted) electrolyzer cell and panel for high-efficiency hydrogen production comprises a photoelectrode and electrode pair, with said photoelectrode comprising either a photoanode electrically coupled to a cathode shared with an anode, or a photocathode electrically coupled to an anode shared with a cathode; electrolyte; gas separators; all within a container divided into two chambers by said shared cathode or shared anode, and at least a portion of which is transparent to the electromagnetic radiation required by said photoanode (or photocathode) to apply photovoltage to a shared cathode (or anode) that increases the electrolysis current and hydrogen production.

A radiation-assisted (typically solar-assisted) electrolyzer cell and panel for high-efficiency hydrogen production comprises a photoelectrode and electrode pair, with said photoelectrode comprising either a photoanode electrically coupled to a cathode shared with an anode, or a photocathode electrically coupled to an anode shared with a cathode; electrolyte; gas separators; all within a container divided into two chambers by said shared cathode or shared anode, and at least a portion of which is transparent to the electromagnetic radiation required by said photoanode (or photocathode) to apply photovoltage to a shared cathode (or anode) that increases the electrolysis current and hydrogen production.

A porous transparent electrode is formed where a film comprising of semiconducting nanoparticles is decorated with polyoxometalates (POMs) bonded to their surfaces. The semiconducting nanoparticles are transparent metal oxide. The semiconducting nanoparticles include tin-doped indium oxide (ITO), fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO), or titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2). In an embodiment, the POM is [SiW.sub.12O.sub.40].sup.4−; [α-P.sub.2W.sub.18O.sub.62].sup.6−; or [α.sub.2-P.sub.2W.sub.17O.sub.61].sup.10−. The semiconducting nanoparticles bond to the POM through a combination of electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds. The porous transparent electrode can be placed in a protonated form or ion-paired with alkali metal cations or tetraalkylammonium cations.

To enhance water electrolysis efficiency by supporting a catalyst on an oxide carrier at a high density. A catalyst layer includes a carrier and a catalyst. The carrier is a nanosheet made of an oxide containing at least one element selected from Ti, Mn, Co, Mo, Ru, W, Nb, and Ta. The catalyst is supported on the carrier.

A CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite electrode and method of making is described. The composite electrode comprises a substrate with an average 2-12 μm thick layer of CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite particles having average diameters of 0.2-2.2 μm. The method of making the composite electrode involves contacting the substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent, a calcium complex, and a titanium complex. The CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite electrode is capable of being used in a photoelectrochemical cell for water splitting.

A CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite electrode and method of making is described. The composite electrode comprises a substrate with an average 2-12 μm thick layer of CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite particles having average diameters of 0.2-2.2 μm. The method of making the composite electrode involves contacting the substrate with an aerosol comprising a solvent, a calcium complex, and a titanium complex. The CaTiO.sub.3—TiO.sub.2 composite electrode is capable of being used in a photoelectrochemical cell for water splitting.

The present disclosure relates to a photoelectrochemical photoelectrode for water splitting, which includes a plate-type photoelectrode including a transparent electrode substrate and a photoanode layer disposed on the transparent electrode substrate, wherein the plate-type photoelectrode exists in a plural number, and the plural plate-type photoelectrodes are disposed in such a manner that the transparent electrode substrate of one photoelectrode may face the photoanode layer of the other photoelectrode, while being spaced apart from each other. In this manner, it is possible to scale-up the photoelectrochemical photoelectrode for water splitting, while providing improved water splitting performance.

Provided is a semiconductor photoelectrode which maintains a light energy conversion efficiency for a long time. In the semiconductor photoelectrode, using a conductive substrate including a III-V group compound semiconductor, a semiconductor thin film including a III-V group compound semiconductor having a photocatalytic function is disposed on the substrate, and an oxygen generation co-catalyst layer having an oxygen generation co-catalytic function for the semiconductor thin film is disposed on the semiconductor thin film. Between the semiconductor thin film and the oxygen generation co-catalyst layer, a semiconductor thin film including a III-V group compound semiconductor having a lattice constant smaller than that of the semiconductor thin film in a plane perpendicular to a crystal growth direction is disposed.