SOLAR CELLS WITH OVERALL WATER SPLITTING USING OLIGOANILINE-CROSSLINKED [Ru(bpy)2(bpyCONHArNH2)]+2 DYE/IRIDIUM OXIDE NANOPARTICLE ARRAYS ON THREE–DIMENSIONALLY ORDERED MACROPOROUS GOLD-NANOPARTICLE DOPED TITANIUM DIOXIDE (3-DMGN-TiO2) PHOTONIC CRYSTALS MODIFIED ELECTRODES
WG4 members: Huseyin Bekir Yildiz, Oktay Talaz, Mustafa Karaman, Ozcan Koysuren, Levent Toppare, Mustafa Ersoz
homepage: www.kmu.edu.tr
This project aims at the construction of photoelectrochemical cell system splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using UV-vis light under constant applied voltage. Oligoaniline-crosslinked 2-(4-aminobenzyl)malonic acid functionalized IrO2.nH2O nanoparticles and visible light absorbing dye, [Ru(bpy)2(bpyCONHArNH2)+2], arrays on three–dimensionally ordered macroporous gold-nanoparticle doped titanium dioxide (3-DMGN-TiO2) photonic crystals modified electrodes will be used as (photo)anode and nanostructures based on bonding of Pt nanoparticles by using electropolimerization on poly 4-(2,5-di(thiophene-2-il)-1 H-pyrrol-1-il) benzenamin P(SNS-NH2) conducting polymer modified gold electrode will act as cathode. If the system is operated under light and constant potential, water will be oxidizingly splitted by IrO2.nH2O catalyst, and production of oxygen in anode and production of hydrogen in cathode will certainly occur. Electropolymerization of the visible region sensitive [Ru(bpy)2(bpyCONHArNH2)+2] and 2-(4-aminobenzyl)malonic acid functionalized IrO2.nH2O nanoparticles on 3-DMGN-TiO2 films results in connection with the conductive oligoaniline bridges. The transfer of the electrons arising from the oxidation of water from nanoparticles into the valence band of [Ru(bpy)2(bpyCONHArNH2)+2] will be faster due to the presence of conductive oligoaniline crosslinks. With the help of these conductive crosslinks the electron flow from [Ru(bpy)2(bpyCONHArNH2)+2] conductive band into the conductive band of TiO2 and then into the electrode will be very fast. The doping of the TiO2 photonic crystal film with gold nanoparticles will also enhance this fast electron transfer. Hence this fast electron transfer will be competitive with the probable electron transfer in the reverse system or will be faster. Under these circumstances there will be an important increase in the quantum efficiency of the system.
Schematic representation of working of photoanode of the solar cell
Schematic representation of the solar cell.
