Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Evolution Using Si Microwire Arrays

Arrays of B-doped p-Si microwires, diffusion-doped with P to form a radial n(+) emitter and subsequently coated with a 1.5-nm-thick discontinuous film of evaporated Pt, were used as photocathodes for H-2 evolution from water. These electrodes yielded thermodynamically based energy-conversion efficiencies >5% under 1 sun solar simulation, despite absorbing less than 50% of the above-band-gap incident photons. Analogous p-Si wire-array electrodes yielded efficiencies <0.2%, largely limited by the low photovoltage generated at the p-Si/H2O junction.