High-Efficiency Integrated Multijunction Photovoltaic/Electrolysis Systems for Hydrogen Production

O. Khaselev, A. Bansal, J. A. Turner

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

302 Scopus Citations

Abstract

In this study, two integrated PV/electrolysis systems were studied. An integrated PV/electrolysis device is a device where the PV system and the electrolyzer are combined into a single system. In the case studied here, the areas of the PV device and the electrolyzer are identical. Multijunction photovoltaic (PV)/electrolysis configurations were investigated, and a high solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency cell demonstrated. The energy diagram of the configuration has been evaluated and exemplified with n/p, n/p-GaInP/GaAs(Pt)/KOH electrolyte and triple-junction p-i-n a-Si(Pt)/KOH electrolyte photovoltaic/electrolysis cells. The efficiency of the cells was determined based on the short-circuit photocurrent. Measurements were obtained both indoors under 100-mW/cm2 insolation, and outdoors. For the a-Si system, a 7.8% solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency was demonstrated. For the GaAs/GaInP2 system, the solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency was over 16%.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)127-132
Number of pages6
JournalInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume26
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-590-27780

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