High PEC conversion efficiencies from CuSe film electrodes modified with metalloporphyrin/polyethylene matrices.

Hikmat S. Hilal's picture
Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
Electrochimica Acta, 174 (2015) 472 - 479 ; doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2015.05.125
Year of Publication: 
2015
Authors: 
Ahed Zyoud
Rola S. Al-Kerm
Waseem Mansur
Mohammed SH Helal
NCTU, Taiwan
Current Affiliation: 
NCTU, Taiwan
Hikmat S. Hilal
An-Najah National University
Current Affiliation: 
An-Najah National University
Rana Al-Kerm
An-Najah National University
Preferred Abstract (Original): 

Electrodeposited CuSe film electrodes have been prepared onto FTO/glass by a facile method based on earlier methods described for other systems. The films were characterized, modified by annealing and further characterized. The films were then modified by coating with tetra(-4-pyridyl) pophyrinato-manganese (MnTPyP) complexes embedded inside commercial polyethylene (PE) matrices. The effects of modifications on different film properties, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns, surface morphology, photoluminescence (PL) spectra and electronic absorption spectra were investigated. Compared with other thin film electrode systems, very high photoelectrochemical (PEC) conversion efficiency values have been observed here. Pre-annealing the CuSe films at 150°C for 2 h, followed by attaching the MnTPyP/PE matrices remarkably enhanced their PEC characteristics. The conversion efficiency was significantly enhanced, from less than 1.0% to more than 15%. Fill factor (FF) was also enhanced from ∼30% to ∼80%. Values of open-circuit potential (VOC) and short-circuit current (JSC) were significantly enhanced. While annealing affects uniformity, particle inter-connection and surface texture of the CuSe films, the MnTPyP complex species behaves as an additional charge-transfer mediator across the film/electrolyte junction. Optimization of PEC characteristics, using different deposition times, different annealing temperatures, different annealing times and different redox couples, was also investigated.