Renewable energy is becoming popular. Solar radiations that reach the Earth are sufficient for global demand. Mono-lithic and tandem photovoltaic (PV) devices are used, with efficiencies above 15%, but demand costly special preparations. Mono-lithic photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems are easier to prepare, but still demand advanced techniques. Nano-film electrodes are more economic, easier to prepare and more environmentally friendly. To cultivate visible light, the major component of solar light, medium band gap (2.4 -1.8 eV; 550 – 700 nm) semiconductor electrodes are needed. Good candidates are metal-chalcogenides MX {M = Cu, Cd, Zn, etc., X = S, Se, Te and others. Such nano-film electrodes showed low conversion efficiencies and low stabilities under PEC conditions. It is thus necessary to modify such materials. Different techniques enhanced conversion efficiency up to 8%. We target much higher efficiencies (more than 15%) and stabilities for nano-film electrodes that resemble PV systems. For this purpose a new facile modification technique has been developed in these laboratories. The technique involves attaching thin composite material matrices (~80 nm) to the electrode surface. The composite involves stable electro-active materials, such as metalloporphyrine complexes, embedded inside stable polymer matrices such as polyethylene or polysiloxane. By this method, unprecedented high conversion efficiencies of ~15% for CuSe films and ~18% for CuS films have been obtained here. Other nano-film electrodes are also being investigated. Moreover, the modified electrodes were stable under PEC conditions. The composite materials affected the band edge positions of the semiconductor film electrodes. The metalloporphyrin complexes behaved as charge transfer catalysts across the solid liquid junction in the PEC system and prevented accumulation of positive holes in the space charge layer, Scheme I. As such, the film electrode was protected from photo-corrosion. Details of our results will be presented together with the model that explains the metalloporphyrin actions. Prospects for future collaboration in the field will also be discussed. Keywords: Nano-films, metalloporphyrin matrices, PEC conversion efficiency and stability Biography HSH has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years from University of Manchester. Since then he has joined the Department of Chemistry at An-Najah N. University in Palestine. He has published more than 100 papers in reputed journals and international conferences. Presenting author details Full name: Hikmat Said Hasan Hilal Contact number: 00972-599-273460 Twitter account: http://staff.najah.edu/hikmat-s-hilal Linked In account: http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hikmat_Hilal2 Session name/ number: Environmental Health & Energy Track 14 Category: (Oral presentation/ Poster presentation): Oral

Conference Title

International Conference on Environmental Health & Safety

Conference Country

Spain

Conference Date

Oct. 24, 2016 - Oct. 25, 2016

Conference Sponsor

Omics International Conferences

Additional Info

Conference Website