High Efficiency Photo-Electrochemical Cell for Hydrogen Generation for Fuel Cells

High efficiency, inexpensive photo-electrochemical cells that directly generate hydrogen from ambient solar energy and water will provide an on-board real-time source of hydrogen to extend the range and improve the mission capabilities of fuel cell-powered military devices such as small unmanned air vehicles (UAVs). Cost and efficiencies of current state-of-the-art photoelectrolysis cells are not adequate to provide the cost and power requirements needed for UAVs and other applications. Lynntech proposes the use of an innovative photoelectrode within a tandem cell that will result in an inexpensive, safe, lightweight system with a higher efficiency compared with current systems. The multicomponent photoelectrode contains Fermi level-matched photosystems that can improve the collection efficiency and charge transfer between the photogenerated states, which represent significant factors that limit the efficiency of current cells. During the Phase I project, Lynntech will design, fabricate, and characterize the stacked photoanode and determine its photo-electrochemical performance in half-cell configuration. Complete photo-electrochemical cells within tandem cell configurations will be assembled and tested to determine the overall system’s photoelectron to hydrogen conversion efficiency, which will be compared with those of state-of-the-art systems. During the Phase II project, a prototype hydrogen generation system will be fabricated and demonstrated to Air Force personnel.