Study on enhancement of photoelectrochemical water splitting performance of solution processed $BiVO_4$-based photoelectrode and demonstration of unassisted monolithic tandem photoelectrochemical cell

Abstract

The increasing global demand for carbon reduction has led to a growing interest in exploring hydrogen energy as a potential solution to mitigate the challenges posed by the fluctuating power generation of renewable energy sources. The photoelectrochemical water splitting has gained significant interest as a promising method for environmentally friendly hydrogen production. This technology utilizes solar energy to convert water into hydrogen, and researchers are actively engaged in studying material properties and developing device structures to enhance the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. This thesis focuses on modifying material properties based on the composition of $BiVO_4$ photoelectrode and the subsequent alterations of photoelectrochemical performance. It examines the various factors that influence material properties during the synthesis of $BiVO_4$ using solution processes and establishes causal relationships between these factors and changes in photoelectrochemical properties. This study focuses on enhancing the solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of tandem devices consisting of $BiVO_4$ and Si and the demonstration of artificial leaf-type devices.