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oa Role of Platinum in Photoelectrochemical Studies Related to Solar Energy Harvesting
- Source: Platinum Metals Review, Volume 56, Issue 4, Oct 2012, p. 221 - 228
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- 01 Jan 2012
Abstract
The electrochemical behaviour of platinum as a regenerator electrode during the photolysis of buffered aqueous solutions of ferrocyanide ([Fe(CN)6]4–) as a source of hydrated electrons for hydrogen production was investigated. Optimum conditions for the heterogeneous reduction of ferricyanide ([Fe(CN)6]3–) in aqueous suspensions of semiconductor nanoparticles were determined, and hydrogen generation was explored in both homogeneous and heterogeneous aqueous systems. Experiments took place in a three-electrode cell. The results indicated that the Pt gauze electrode gave adequate and reproducible photoelectrochemical performance during the photolysis of aqueous solutions of [Fe(CN)6]4– in 0.2 M pH 6 phosphate buffer. The results provide evidence for the important role of Pt in photolysis studies that aim towards harvesting solar energy.