VARIABILITY TESTING OF BIVO4 PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

Testing Variables of BiVO4 Photovoltaic Cells and their Efficiency to Split Water and Produce
Hydrogen as a Renewable Energy Source
Kylie M. Britt
Massanutten Regional Governors School
12 December 2014

VARIABILITY TESTING OF BIVO4 PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

Literature Review
Using photovoltaic cells is one method of harnessing solar energy and converting it to
electricity. This can be done with the intent to eventually use that energy to split water and
produce hydrogen. These cells have been improved upon by adding a solution called bismuth
vanadate (shortened as BiVO4), and the current output (in mA) has been boosted even with the
addition of a solution known as CoPi (a cobalt and phosphate solution). However, it is unknown
how to optimize the amount of these solutions, and what concentration of each element in those
solutions is more beneficial to the efficiency of the photovoltaic thin-films.
Hydrogen is produced mainly through splitting water into its two components, hydrogen
and oxygen. Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a combination of two processes,
photovoltaic energy production and electrolysis to produce hydrogen. When both processes are
used, but do not occur in the single device, it is called the PV (photovoltaic)/electrolysis system.
Photoelectrolysis, a way to separate water, is a method of using solar energy to conduct an
otherwise non-spontaneous reaction through a direct electric current. (Photoelectrochemical
Water Splitting). By using photoelectrolysis to split water, the efficiency is 30% higher than if a
standard, PV/electrolysis water splitting system were used (MacQueen). The photoelectrolysis
method requires the catalysts be submerged in an aqueous solution.
A study involving carbon-doped tungsten PV films was performed, evaluating the method
of spray pyrolysis for deposition. (Photoelectrochemical and structural characterization of
carbon-doped WO films prepared via spray pyrolysis). The topography and variables of the
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films were then measured using scanning electron microscopy, spectroscopy, and resonance. The
difference in doped and undoped films results from the variability in glucose levels. When used

VARIABILITY TESTING OF BIVO4 PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

to produce electricity, these films exhibited a 50% growth in current. The researchers then found
the optimal depth and concentration of the solution that was deposited on the carbon-tungsten
films.
This research team, the one I am now partnering with at JMU, hoped to improve the
electric output of photovoltaic thin films by adding a chemical known as bismuth vanadate. The
coating is done through a process known as ultra-spray pyrolysis, in a cost-efficient method
devised by Dr. Lawrence himself. Tungsten was added to the films as well to act as a hole
scavenger and electrical conductor. Turns out, tungsten was reducing the energy produced, but it
was found that ultra-spray pyrolysis is very effective in fully coating the photovoltaic thin films.
(Photoelectrochemical performance of W-doped BiVO4 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis.)
The use of spray pyrolysis as a solution depositor, especially on photovoltaic thin films,
is incredibly applicable to using photoanodes in solar-hydrogen research. This spray pyrolysis,
pioneered by Dr. David J. Lawrence and Dr. Keith Holland, is a cost-effective method of
depositing solution onto the PV cells. It is homemade, with materials including a gift-store fog
machine and PVC pipe. Finding an optimal level of solution (in my case, cobalt phosphate), and
concentration of either bismuth or vanadate in the BiVO4 is the next step. Using electron
microscopy images, surface profiling depicting depth and photoelectrochemical (PEC) testing,
the efficiency of these variables can be compared. (Photoelectrochemical and structural
characterization of carbon-doped WO films prepared via spray pyrolysis).
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This research, founded by Drs. Holland and Lawrence, will focus on such solutions as
cobalt phosphate (CoPi) and upping the potency of the BiVO . Some of the variables that stand to
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be tested include the depth of the CoPi and BiVO4, films with an excess of bismuth, and some

VARIABILITY TESTING OF BIVO4 PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

with a copious amount of vanadate. As the year progresses and data is produced from these
original tests, the variables will be reevaluated and there may be a new list of factors to test.
Analyzing these variables will have invaluable effects for the overall process of solarhydrogen electrolysis. This year the research will follow the process of variability testing from
start to finishfrom deposition and the fabrication of the BiVO4 PV cells to the electron
microscopy and finally photoelectrochemical testing. Many different methods will be used to test
the productivity of variables that could cheaply improve the process of using solar-hydrogen as a
renewable resource.

VARIABILITY TESTING OF BIVO4 PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

References
Currao, A. (2007). Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting. CHIMIA, 61 (12), pages 815-819.
Holland, S., Dutter, M., Lawrence, D., Reisner, B., and DeVore, C. (2013). Photoelectrochemical
performance of W-doped BiVO4 thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis. SPIE, 8822, 514.
MacQueen, D. B. (n.d.). Photoelectrochemical water splitting. Retrieved from
http://gcep.stanford.edu/pdfs/hydrogen_workshop/MacQueen.pdf
Sun, Y., Murphy, C., Reyes-Gil, K., Reyes-Garcia, E., Thornton, J., Morris, N., & Raftery, D.
(2009). Photoelectrochemical and structural characterization of carbon-doped WO3 films
prepared via spray pyrolysis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 34, 8476- 8484.