• Stellmach, D.; Bogdanoff, P.; Gabriel, O.; Stannowski, B.; Schlatmann, R.; van de Krol, R.; Fiechter, S.: Nanostrutured MoS2 particles as a novel hydrogen evolving catalyst integrated in a PV-hybrid electrolyzer. In: A. Mendez-Vilas [Ed.] : Materials and processes for energy: communicating current research and technological developmentsZurbaran: Formatex Research Center, 2013 Energy Book Series #1 . - ISBN 978-84-939843-7-3, p. 880-886
    http://www.energymaterialsbook.org/


Abstract:
Hydrogen generated by conversion of sunlight into chemical energy is considered as a fuel of the future replacing fossil carbon and hydrocarbons. A sustainable and environmentally acceptable way to produce H2 is by the photoelectrolysis of water, i.e. the conversion of solar into chemical energy by water splitting. For this purpose we modified a triple junction amorphous / microcrystalline silicon (3j a-Si/μc-Si) thin film solar cell in superstrate configuration. In a first approach Pt and RuO2 nanoparticles were used as catalysts. The solar to fuel efficiency (SFE) of this PV hybrid electrolyser was ≤ 3.7%. We then replaced the platinum by MoS2 as an alternative low-cost hydrogen evolving catalyst. For this purpose crystalline MoS2 nano-sheets were deposited enveloping multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Compared to other preparation strategies, MWNCT-supported MoS2 has the advantage of a higher corrosion stability in the hydrogen evolution reaction.Deposited as a blend with PEDOT:PSS on the backside of the solar cell a SFE of 2.5% was yielded.