Photoelectrochemical Investigation of Solar Cell Materials

Abstract

This contribution deals with some principles and problems of photoelectrochemical solar energy conversion and their influence on current semiconductor materials research. Can hydrogen production by photoelectrolysis be expected to become of any importance in the future? We outline the physical principles governing the behaviour of illuminated semiconductor electrodes in aqueous electrolytes. As an example characterization of the p-type, single crystal, ternary chalcopyrites CdSiAs₂ and ZnSnP₂ is presented.