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Direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion via inverted metamorphic multi-junction semiconductor architectures

Author

Listed:
  • James L. Young

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway)

  • Myles A. Steiner

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway)

  • Henning Döscher

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway
    Philipps-Universität Marburg)

  • Ryan M. France

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway)

  • John A. Turner

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway)

  • Todd G. Deutsch

    (National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway)

Abstract

Solar water splitting via multi-junction semiconductor photoelectrochemical cells provides direct conversion of solar energy to stored chemical energy as hydrogen bonds. Economical hydrogen production demands high conversion efficiency to reduce balance-of-systems costs. For sufficient photovoltage, water-splitting efficiency is proportional to the device photocurrent, which can be tuned by judicious selection and integration of optimal semiconductor bandgaps. Here, we demonstrate highly efficient, immersed water-splitting electrodes enabled by inverted metamorphic epitaxy and a transparent graded buffer that allows the bandgap of each junction to be independently varied. Voltage losses at the electrolyte interface are reduced by 0.55 V over traditional, uniformly p-doped photocathodes by using a buried p–n junction. Advanced on-sun benchmarking, spectrally corrected and validated with incident photon-to-current efficiency, yields over 16% solar-to-hydrogen efficiency with GaInP/GaInAs tandem absorbers, representing a 60% improvement over the classical, high-efficiency tandem III–V device.

Suggested Citation

  • James L. Young & Myles A. Steiner & Henning Döscher & Ryan M. France & John A. Turner & Todd G. Deutsch, 2017. "Direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion via inverted metamorphic multi-junction semiconductor architectures," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 2(4), pages 1-8, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natene:v:2:y:2017:i:4:d:10.1038_nenergy.2017.28
    DOI: 10.1038/nenergy.2017.28
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    Cited by:

    1. Junfang Zhang & Yuntao Zhu & Christian Njel & Yuxin Liu & Pietro Dallabernardina & Molly M. Stevens & Peter H. Seeberger & Oleksandr Savateev & Felix F. Loeffler, 2023. "Metal-free photoanodes for C–H functionalization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Ma, Ben-Chi & Lin, Hua & Zhu, Yizhou & Zeng, Zilong & Geng, Jiafeng & Jing, Dengwei, 2022. "A new Concentrated Photovoltaic Thermal-Hydrogen system with photocatalyst suspension as optical liquid filter," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 194(C), pages 1221-1232.
    3. Yixin Xiao & Xianghua Kong & Srinivas Vanka & Wan Jae Dong & Guosong Zeng & Zhengwei Ye & Kai Sun & Ishtiaque Ahmed Navid & Baowen Zhou & Francesca M. Toma & Hong Guo & Zetian Mi, 2023. "Oxynitrides enabled photoelectrochemical water splitting with over 3,000 hrs stable operation in practical two-electrode configuration," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Austin M. K. Fehr & Ayush Agrawal & Faiz Mandani & Christian L. Conrad & Qi Jiang & So Yeon Park & Olivia Alley & Bor Li & Siraj Sidhik & Isaac Metcalf & Christopher Botello & James L. Young & Jacky E, 2023. "Integrated halide perovskite photoelectrochemical cells with solar-driven water-splitting efficiency of 20.8%," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    5. Baroutaji, Ahmad & Wilberforce, Tabbi & Ramadan, Mohamad & Olabi, Abdul Ghani, 2019. "Comprehensive investigation on hydrogen and fuel cell technology in the aviation and aerospace sectors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 31-40.
    6. Ma, Zhiwen & Davenport, Patrick & Saur, Genevieve, 2022. "System and technoeconomic analysis of solar thermochemical hydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C), pages 294-308.
    7. Isaac Holmes-Gentle & Saurabh Tembhurne & Clemens Suter & Sophia Haussener, 2023. "Kilowatt-scale solar hydrogen production system using a concentrated integrated photoelectrochemical device," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 8(6), pages 586-596, June.
    8. Chao Zhen & Xiangtao Chen & Ruotian Chen & Fengtao Fan & Xiaoxiang Xu & Yuyang Kang & Jingdong Guo & Lianzhou Wang & Gao Qing (Max) Lu & Kazunari Domen & Hui-Ming Cheng & Gang Liu, 2024. "Liquid metal-embraced photoactive films for artificial photosynthesis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    9. Rissman, Jeffrey & Bataille, Chris & Masanet, Eric & Aden, Nate & Morrow, William R. & Zhou, Nan & Elliott, Neal & Dell, Rebecca & Heeren, Niko & Huckestein, Brigitta & Cresko, Joe & Miller, Sabbie A., 2020. "Technologies and policies to decarbonize global industry: Review and assessment of mitigation drivers through 2070," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 266(C).
    10. Keisuke Obata & Michael Schwarze & Tabea A. Thiel & Xinyi Zhang & Babu Radhakrishnan & Ibbi Y. Ahmet & Roel Krol & Reinhard Schomäcker & Fatwa F. Abdi, 2023. "Solar-driven upgrading of biomass by coupled hydrogenation using in situ (photo)electrochemically generated H2," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.

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