External photo-stimuli on heterojunctions commonly induce an electric potential gradient across the interface therein, such as photovoltaic effect, giving rise to various present-day technical devices. In contrast, in-plane along has been rarely observed. Here we show that moving a light beam at semiconductor-water interface, i.e. creating boundary of electrical double layers between illuminate...

Solar water splitting is a promising technique for harvesting solar energy and converting abundant sunlight into storable hydrogen fuel. The cuprous oxide photocathode, one of the best-performing photocathodes, possesses theoretical photocurrent density up to 14.7 mA cm ?2 photovoltage as large 1.6 V, making it possible convert in low-cost way. Herein, comprehensive review improving performance...

The principal driving force for charge carrier separation in a PEC cell is given by the QFL gradients. Upon illumination E-field reduced amount of photovoltage delivered. Selective contacts are thus decisive device performance.

We introduce high surface area ZnO nanotube photoanodes templated by anodic aluminum oxide for use in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Atomic layer deposition is utilized to coat pores conformally, providing a direct path for charge collection over tens of micrometers thickness. Compared to similar ZnO-based devices, ZnO nanotube cells show exceptional photovoltage and fill factors, in addit...

To minimize the charge recombination between electrons and the electron acceptor in solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells, we propose a separated electron donor and acceptor of a redox couple in the photoanode and in the cathode, respectively. Owing to the absence of the acceptor in the photoanode initially, the charge recombination rate is retarded remarkably, resulting in an increase of the ...

Through elongating the end or side alkyl chains of dye molecules, we decorate anatase nanocrystals with a thicker organic assembly featuring a smaller tilt angle of the D-π-A backbone with respect to the surface normal, which retards the interfacial charge recombination and confers a higher photovoltage output on mesoscopic cobalt solar cells displaying an over 10% power conversion efficiency a...