PHOTOELECTROCHEMISTRY
Academic year and teacher
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- Versione italiana
- Academic year
- 2022/2023
- Teacher
- STEFANO CARAMORI
- Credits
- 6
- Didactic period
- Secondo Semestre
- SSD
- CHIM/03
Training objectives
- At the end of the course the student should be capable of:
1) describing the interfacial energetics of a photoactive materia or device
2) developing relationships between the the thermodynamics and kinetic properties of a material (flat band, band gap, donor density, carrier mobility,possibility to develop internal potential barriers)to its employement as a solar energy converter
3) describing the architecture of a solar device having technological relevance, underlining its properties, advantages and limitations. Prerequisites
- Fundamentals of quantum mechanics, electrostatics, classical thermodynamics and electrochemical kinetics
Course programme
- Band theory in metals and semiconductors. Energetics in n and p type semiconductor in the dark and under illumination. Schottky barrier in metal-semiconductor junctions, n/p semiconductor junction and semiconductor/ electrolyte interface. Mott-Shcottky equation and its applications.
Charge separation in the dark and under illumination in the presence of electrostatic potential. Diode Equation.
Charge transport and recombination in semiconductors. Diffusion Length, Gartner Model, diagnostic relevance for the mechanism of charge separation.
Nanostructured semiconductor in the absence of potential barrier. The example of sensitized photoelectrochemical cells based on mesoporous TiO2. Chemical Capacitance. Charge separation based on kinetic overpotential. Recombination Resistance.
Experimental Methods in photoelectrochemistry: current potential characteristics, quantum yield of photoconversion, methods for the determination of the flat band potential, charge carrier lifetime determination.
Preparation architecture and functioning of materials and technological devices for solar energy conversion: silicon cells, thin film solar cells, polymer solar cells, DSSC, heterojunctions. Didactic methods
- Classroom lectures, laboratory practice. Pre-registered lessons are available at the dedicated classroom site.
Learning assessment procedures
- Oral examination lasting ca. 45'. During the examination the student will discuss the salient themes of the course. These include:
Semiconductor energetics, formation of electrostatic barriers and consequences on the mechanism of charge separation.
Physical significance of the flat potential of a semiconductor, methods for its measurement, and implications for the description of the device energetics.
Description of materials and devices for solar energy conversion having technological relevance: their architecture and functioning will be discussed under thermodynamic and kinetic aspects.
Application of experimental methods for the dynamic characterization of photoelectrodes and solar devices: efficiency, charge conversion quantum yield, photovoltage, carrier lifetime. Reference texts
- C. Kittel "Introduction to Solid State Physics"
N. Sato "Electrochemistry at Metal and Semiconductor Electrodes"
K.W. Boer " Introduction to Space Charge Effects in Semiconductors"
Z. Chen et al. "Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting Standards, Experimental Methods, and Protocols"
Recent literature cases selected among papers and reviews having particular pedagogical and scientific relevance. These will be provided by the lecturer.
