Enhanced photoelectrochemical hydrogen production with swift heavy ion irradiation

Abstract

Conventional solar cells directly convert light to electricity. Alternatively, hydrogen production through splitting water in a photoelectrochemical cell has emerged as an advanced alternative to the conventional photovoltaic cell. The key limiting challenge in the process is to design a stable semiconductor electrode that, on exposure to sunlight, creates charge carriers that in turn produce hydrogen and oxygen. The primary requirements for suitable semiconductor photoelectrodes are sufficient solar-energy absorption, high chemical stability, and favorable band edge positions with respect to water oxidation potential. Various strategies are used to tailor semiconductor properties to suit these requirements, such as doping, dye sensitization, fabricating heterostructures of different metal oxides, developing composite nanomaterials, and nanoarchitecture design. Photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance nevertheless remains less than ideal.

Spectrally selective absorber coating of WAlN/WAlON/Al2O3 for solar thermal applications

“…There was no significant change in the Raman spectrum even after heating the sample up to a temperature of 450 °C, which indicates the stable microstructure of the tandem absorber. [43,44]. From the analysis of the Raman spectroscopy of the heat treated coating at 550 °C, it can be predicted that the heat treatment has introduced several modifications in the coating.…”

Modified structural, surface morphological and optical studies of Li3+ swift heavy ion irradiation on zinc oxide nanoparticles

“…[21][22][23][24][25][26] D. Avasthi et al 27 reported that when an energetic ion penetrates into any material, it loses energy mainly by two independent processes: (i) elastic collisions with the nuclei, known as nuclear energy loss (dE/dx)n, which dominates at an energy of about 1 keV per amu, and (ii) inelastic collisions of the highly charged projectile ion with the atomic electrons of the matter, known as electronic energy loss (dE/dx)e, which dominates at an energy of about 1 MeV per amu or more. Swi heavy ion irradiation (SHII) of nanostructures has induced changes in size and shape.…”

“…Swi heavy ions penetrate deep into the materials and generate a long and narrow disordered zone along the material's trajectory. [21][22][23][24][25][26] D. Avasthi et al 27 reported that when an energetic ion penetrates into any material, it loses energy mainly by two independent processes: (i) elastic collisions with the nuclei, known as nuclear energy loss (dE/dx)n, which dominates at an energy of about 1 keV per amu, and (ii) inelastic collisions of the highly charged projectile ion with the atomic electrons of the matter, known as electronic energy loss (dE/dx)e, which dominates at an energy of about 1 MeV per amu or more. In the inelastic collision (cross-section $ 10 À16 cm 2 ), the energy is transferred from the projectile to the atoms through excitation and ionization of the surrounding electrons.…”