%0 Journal Article
%T A thermally synergistic photo-electrochemical hydrogen generator operating under concentrated solar irradiation
%J -
%D 2019
%R https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-019-0373-7
%X Achieving high current densities while maintaining high energy conversion efficiency is one of the main challenges for enhancing the competitiveness of photo-electrochemical devices. We describe a concept that allows this challenge to be overcome by operating under concentrated solar irradiation (up to 474£¿kW£¿m£¿2), using thermal integration, mass transport optimization and a close electronic integration between the photoabsorber and electrocatalyst. We quantify the increase in the theoretical maximum efficiencies resulting from thermal integration, and experimentally validate the concept using a III¨CV-based photoabsorber and IrRuOx¨CPt-based electrocatalysts. We reach current densities higher than 0.88£¿A£¿cm£¿2 at calculated solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiencies above 15%. Device performance, dynamic response and stability are investigated, demonstrating the ability to produce hydrogen stably under varying conditions for more than two hours. The current density and output power (27£¿W) achieved provide a pathway for device scalability aimed towards the large-scale deployment of photo-electrochemical hydrogen production
%U https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-019-0373-7