Integrated device for solar-driven water splitting

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022223352-A1
Application number	US-202217647682-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 11, 2022
Priority date	Jan 11, 2021
Publication date	Jul 14, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described is an integrated device for solar-driven water splitting. The integrated device includes cobalt phosphide (CoP) electrodes, series-connected perovskite solar cells (PSCs) encapsulated in a polymer, and a metal film connecting the CoP electrodes with the series-connected PSCs. Also described is a method for forming an integrated device for solar-driven water splitting.

First claim

What is claimed:

1 . An integrated device for solar-driven water splitting, comprising:
a plurality of cobalt phosphide (CoP) electrodes; a plurality of series-connected perovskite solar cells (PSCs); and a metal film to connect the plurality of CoP electrodes with the plurality of series-connected PSCs, wherein the PSCs are encapsulated by a polymer.

2 . The integrated device according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is a thermosetting or a thermoplastic polymer.

3 . The integrated device according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of series-connected PSCs are carbon-based.

4 . The integrated device according to claim 1 , wherein each CoP electrode comprises:
a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass layer; and a layer of CoP nanorod arrays on the FTO coated glass layer.

5 . The integrated device according to claim 1 , wherein each PSC comprises:
a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass layer; a plurality of layers of compact titanium dioxide (c-TiO 2 ) and mesoporous titanium dioxide (m-TiO 2 ) on the FTO coated glass layer; a perovskite layer on the plurality of layers of c-TiO 2 and m-TiO 2 ; and a carbon electrode layer on the perovskite layer.

6 . The integrated device according to claim 1 , wherein the polymer is positioned between the plurality of CoP electrodes and the plurality of series-connected PSCs.

7 . The integrated device according to claim 1 , wherein a counter electrode of the plurality of series-connected PSCs is connected with an anode of the plurality of CoP electrodes by a layer of non-noble metal film, and wherein a photoanode of the plurality of series-connected PSCs is connected with a cathode of the plurality of CoP electrodes by a layer of non-noble metal film.

8 . A method for forming an integrated device for solar-driven water splitting, comprising acts of:
forming a plurality of cobalt phosphide (CoP) electrodes; forming a plurality of series-connected perovskite solar cells (PSCs); encapsulating the plurality of series-connected PSCs with a polymer; and connecting the plurality of CoP electrodes with the plurality of series-connected PSCs with a metal film.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising an act of preparing each CoP electrode, wherein preparing each CoP electrode comprises acts of:
growing cobalt-precursor (Co-pre) nanorod arrays directly on glass coated with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) by a hydrothermal process; annealing the Co-pre nanorod arrays to obtain Co 3 O 4 nanorod arrays; and synthesizing CoP nanorod arrays via a phosphorization treatment.

10 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising an act of preparing each PSC, wherein preparing each PSC comprises acts of:
depositing a layer of compact titanium dioxide (c-TiO 2 ) on glass coated with fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO); depositing a layer of mesoporous titanium dioxide (m-TiO 2 ) on the c-TiO 2 layer followed by annealing; depositing a perovskite layer on the layers of c-TiO 2 and m-TiO 2 followed by annealing; and depositing a carbon electrode layer on the perovskite layer followed by heating.

11 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising an act of positioning the polymer is between the plurality of CoP electrodes and the plurality of series-connected PSCs.

12 . The method according to claim 8 , further comprising acts of:
connecting a counter electrode of the plurality of series-connected PSCs with an anode of the plurality of CoP electrodes using a layer of non-noble metal film; and connecting a photoanode of the plurality of series-connected PSCs with a cathode of the plurality of CoP electrodes using a layer of non-noble metal film.

Assignees

• Univ Rice William M

Inventors

• Lou Jun
• Liang Jia

Classifications

• C25B11/075

  consisting of a single catalytic element or catalytic compound · CPC title

• C25B11/02

  characterised by shape or form · CPC title

• C25B11/067

  Inorganic compound e.g. ITO, silica or titania · CPC title

• C25B9/60

  Constructional parts of cells · CPC title

• C25B1/55

  Photoelectrolysis · CPC title