Photo & Electrochemical Energy Material Laboratory

Photoelectrochemical water splitting cell

 

photoelectrochemical water-splitting cell (PEC) to generate the hydrogen directly from solar light would be one of interesting research part. To achieve the stable and less expensive devices, the understanding of basic operating principal and the discovery of new materials are very essential. Hence, below shows more detail research plans.

 

Our research is focused on the development of H2 and O2 electrodes. Energy band gap for water splitting is required to be 1.23 eV and electrode material having the band gap of 1.6 eV as considering the overpotential is regarded as an optimum material. In addition, the LUMO or HOMO at the electrode should be positioned above hydrogen level (H+/H2) or below oxygen level (H2O/O2). Therefore, the modulation of hydrogen or oxygen evolved potential will be possible by the basic study on the surface state between the electrolyte and electrode as well as the modulation of surface state using several materials. Furthermore, 1-D structured metal oxides can give potential properties in the fashion of electron or hole transport. Various structured and nanomaterials will be attracted in the PEC water splitting cell.