Photoelectrochemical Tandem Cell with Bipolar Dye-Sensitized Electrodes for Vectorial Electron Transfer for Water Splitting

Abstract

Direct water electrolysis was achieved with a novel monolithic photoelectrochemical cell. Bipolar and dye-sensitized semiconductor panels, capable of vectorial electron transfer, have been used for water splitting to yield hydrogen and oxygen; light is the only energy input. The hydrogen production efficiency of this tandem cell, based on the short-circuit current, was and the maximum hydrogen production efficiency was when positive bias was applied. When a concentrated LiCl aqueous solution was used as an electrolyte, valuable chlorine was obtained instead of oxygen. The maximum yielding efficiency of hydrogen and chlorine was .