title: Platinum nanoparticle decorated silicon nanowires for efficient solar energy conversion.
abstract: High-density aligned n-type silicon nanowire (SiNW) arrays decorated with discrete 5-10 nm platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) have been fabricated by aqueous electroless Si etching followed by an electroless platinum deposition process. Coating of PtNPs on SiNW sidewalls yielded a substantial enhancement in photoconversion efficiency and an apparent energy conversion efficiency of up to 8.14% for the PtNP-decorated SiNW-based photoelectrochemical solar cell using a liquid electrolyte containing Br(-)/Br(2) redox couple. The results demonstrate PtNP-decorated SiNWs to be a promising hybrid system for solar energy conversion.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Beam Technology and Material Modification of Ministry of Education and College of Nuclear Science and Technology, Department of Physics, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. kq_peng@bnu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Kui-Qing
authors.initials: KQ
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Shuit-Tong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Lee