PHOTOELECTROLYZER WITH SOLID POLYMER ELECTROLYTE FOR WATER DECOMPOSITION BY LUMINOUS ENERGY

The model of a photoelectrolyzer with solid polymer electrolyte (an MF-4 SK membrane) and semiconductor photoelectrode (SrTiO3, TiO2) for water decomposition into hydrogen and oxygen by luminous energy was constructed. The flat-band potentials of SrTiO3 and TiO2 in contact with the solid polymer electrolyte were measured. It was seen when comparing the characteristics (size of photocurrent, flat-band potentials) of photoelectrodes in contact with solid polymer electrolyte and with liquid electrolyte (aqueous H2SO4 solution) that their behavior has many common features in these two media. The quantum yield of the photocurrent in UV illumination was as high as 0.8. Problems of an optimization of the photoelectrolyzer with solid polymer electrolyte were discussed (illumination of the electrodes, mass transport).