SILICON PHOTOELECTRODES MODIFIED WITH ULTRAFINE METAL ISLANDS

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) cells, equipped with an n-Si electrode modified with ultrafine platinum islands, generate very high photovoltages of 0.66 to 0.68 V. This shows that electrodes of this type form a junction of an ideal nature, and opens a new approach to developing high-efficiency and low-cost solar cells. Our studies on the properties of such electrodes, both theoretical and experimental and the applications to solar energy conversion are reviewed, including recent unpublished results. It is also shown that the principle of the PEC cell can be extended to solid-state solar cells having a new junction. Some interesting properties of semiconductor electrodes reported by other workers are discussed in relation to the present theoretical model.