Sustainable solar-powered hydrogen generation with a silicon nanopillar device with a low carbon footprint

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2024-05, Vol.68, p.1322-1330
• Main Authors: Tseng, Po-Hsien, Lai, Yu-Sheng, Li, Mei-Yi, Huang, Cheng-Ming, Tsai, Shang-Yu, Y-J Hsu, Klaus, Ko, Fu-Hsiang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Carbon footprint; Hydrogen generation; Paris Agreement; Photovoltaic devices; Schottky junction
• ISSN: 0360-3199
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2024.04.246

A device system enabling continual hydrogen production under solar light in a water environment is proposed in this study. This system features a self-powered water splitter with a solar harvester from an aluminium-doped zinc oxide/n-type silicon Schottky junction. Thin-film photovoltaic devices are connected in series to reach the reaction potential necessary for the electrolysis of water. Three types of device systems are studied, and their respective hydrogen generation properties are evaluated. The surface passivation effect from only 0.8 nm ultrathin aluminium oxide was found to effectively protect the device surface by withstanding the corrosion of critical solutions for hydrogen generation. In addition, the surface silicon nanopillars create numerical Schottky junctions that can reduce the reaction potential for the electrolysis of DI water from 1.28 V to 0.74 V and achieve a 115 μLh−1cm−2 hydrogen generation rate. Here, a bias-free and simple structural device system is successfully developed and is advantageous for directly converting solar energy into hydrogen among various water systems. The idea of a sustainable solar-powered hydrogen generation system as well as a future low-carbon footprint design meets the principles of the Paris Agreement. A device system enabling continual hydrogen production under solar light in a water environment is proposed in this study. This system, with devices connected in series, features a self-powered water splitter with a solar harvester from an aluminium-doped zinc oxide (AZO)/n-type silicon Schottky junction. [Display omitted] •The study showcases three device systems aligned with the Paris Agreement.•Sustainable solar-powered hydrogen generation with silicon nanopillar device.•Solar harvester from aluminium-doped zinc oxide/n-type silicon Schottky junction.•Solar energy can be directly converted into hydrogen through a simple series system.•The low-carbon-footprinting design for hydrogen generation met the Paris Agreement.