Photodissociation of water by p- and n-type polycrystalline iron oxides by using visible light (</=2.7 eV) in the absence of external potential.
A polycrystalline p/n diode assembly, consisting of pressed magnesium- and silicon-doped iron oxide powders, has been shown to photodissociate water by using visible light in the absence of any external potential. In the investigated pH range (8-14) the device produces hydrogen catalytically in amounts that are readily detectable by gas chromatography. The relatively low-power conversion efficiency of 0.05% is believed to be due to the poor change-transfer properties of the p-type iron oxide used.
Materials and Molecular Research Division, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, and Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720.
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Hendewerk
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Somorjai