Energy Conversion Through Electrochemical Solar Cell Based on CdS Film Photoanode

Department of Chemistry, University of Kalyani, Kalyani-741 235

 Electrochemical solar cells of the type CdS film/Polysulfide electrolyte/Pt, were prepared with n-CdS film deposited onto a (a) cadmium sheet and (b) titanium substrate. Under polychromatic excitation the cell characteristics were investigated. The onset of photoresponse was ~500 mµ, maximum conversion efficiency 0.13%, open circuit photopotential (V_OC ) 0.62 volt, short circuit current (I_SC ) 0.58 mA

and fill factor 0.36. It has been shown that it is possible to construct a regenerative photocell capable of acting as a sustained energy converter device. The poor cell efficiency has been attributed to lattice imperfections in the film.