Platinum nanoparticle decorated silicon nanowires for efficient solar energy conversion.
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.
Peng
Kui-Qing
KQ
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
Wang
Xin
X
Wu
Xiao-Ling
XL
Lee
Shuit-Tong
ST