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Photochemical Determinants of the Efficiency of Photogalvanic Conversion of Solar Energy

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Solar Energy

Part of the book series: Contemporary Issues in Science and Society ((CISS))

Abstract

A photogalvanic cell is a battery in which the cell solution absorbs light directly to generate species which, upon back reaction through an external circuit with the aid of suitable electrodes, produces electric power; photoactivation of the electrodes is not involved. The charge-carrying species have storage capacity if they are long-lived and can be prevented from engaging in degradative back reactions in bulk solution. The efficiency of a photogalvanic cell for the conversion of photon energy into electrical energy is determined by photochemical and electrochemical factors. Among the latter are the choice of electrode materials and the kinetics of electron transfer at the heterogeneous surfaces. In this paper we examine the photochemical determinants of the efficiency of photogalvanic cell operation: the absorption spectral characteristics of the cell solution, the efficiency of formation of separated charge carriers, and the lifetimes of the carriers toward back electron transfer. Modulation of bulk solution dynamics can be achieved by variation of the solution medium. The photochemical determinants are discussed with particular reference to the use of thionine or Ru(bpy) 3+3 as the light absorbing species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, USA

    Morton Z. Hoffman & Norman N. Lichtin

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  1. Morton Z. Hoffman
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  2. Norman N. Lichtin
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Richard R. Hautala R. Bruce King Charles Kutal

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© 1979 The HUMANA Press Inc.

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Hoffman, M.Z., Lichtin, N.N. (1979). Photochemical Determinants of the Efficiency of Photogalvanic Conversion of Solar Energy. In: Hautala, R.R., King, R.B., Kutal, C. (eds) Solar Energy. Contemporary Issues in Science and Society. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6245-9_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-6245-9_7

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6247-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-6245-9

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