ABSTRACT This paper describes the generation of hydrogen by photolysis of water using a semiconductor septum electrochemical photovoltaic (SC-SEP) cell, which is modeled after Nature`s photosynthesis. A SC-SEP cell differs fundamentally from a conventional photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) in that a PEC usually consists of a photoactive semiconductor electrode, a counter electrode and an electrolyte, all of which are contained in one compartment. Shining light on the septum bipolar electrode will cause the electron-hole generation and separation, resulting eventually in the reduction and oxidation on opposite sides of the septum electrode. As a result of these redox reactions, water is split into molecular hydrogen and oxygen in separate compartments. Ways to achieve size control in the chemical precipitation of semiconductor colloids (nanoparticles) on the septum electrode will be investigated in organized assemblies. Study of these novel type of SC-SEP cells based on the septum electrodes for the purpose of hydrogen production from aqueous solutions including seawater using only visible light of the solar spectrum will be the main goal of our future research.
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