Search for: All records

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) hydrogen generation is a promising solar energy harvesting technique to address the concerns about the ongoing energy crisis. Antimony selenide (Sb₂Se₃) with van der Waals‐bonded quasi‐1D (Q1D) nanoribbons, for instance, (Sb₄Se₆)_n, has attracted considerable interest as a light absorber with Earth‐abundant elements, suitable bandgap, and a desired sunlight absorption coefficient. By tuning its anisotropic growth behavior, it is possible to achieve Sb₂Se₃films with nanostructured morphologies that can improve the light absorption and photogenerated charge carrier separation, eventually boosting the PEC water‐splitting performance. Herein, high‐quality Sb₂Se₃films with nanorod (NR) array surface morphologies are synthesized by a low‐cost, high‐yield, and scalable close‐spaced sublimation technique. By sputtering a nonprecious and scalable crystalline molybdenum sulfide (MoS₂) film as a cocatalyst and a protective layer on Sb₂Se₃NR arrays, the fabricated core–shell structured MoS₂/Sb₂Se₃NR PEC devices can achieve a photocurrent density as high as −10 mA cm⁻²at 0 V_RHEin a buffered near‐neutral solution (pH 6.5) under a standard simulated air mass 1.5 solar illumination. The scalable manufacturing of nanostructured MoS₂/Sb₂Se₃NR array thin‐film photocathode electrodes for efficient PEC water splitting to generate solar fuel is demonstrated. 

The nanoscale electrical and mechanical properties in the CdTe thin films solar cells were investigated using the scanning probe microscopy. The comparative localized electrical and mechanical properties between as-grown and CdCl2 treated CdTe thin films for the grain and grain boundaries were studied using the conductive atomic force microscopy (cAFM) and force modulation microscopy (FMM). An increased electrical behavior and decreased elastic stiffness in the CdCl2 treated thin films were recorded to elucidate the impact from the grain growth of CdTe grains. On applying a simulated working electrical bias into the CdTe thin-film solar cells, the electric field across the CdTe film can increase the softness of CdTe thin film. The results imply the presence of a potential mechanical failure site in the CdTe grain boundary, which may lead to device degradation.