Design and Testing of a Electrolysis Cell Coupled with a 4cm² Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cell for Sustainable Hydrogen Production

My master’s project focuses on the development and testing of an electrolysis cell directly integrated with a 4cm² perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell. The primary objective is to achieve efficient and direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion through photoelectrochemical water splitting within a compact, integrated device. By eliminating the need for external grid power, this solar-driven approach offers a pathway to decentralized and sustainable hydrogen production, crucial for clean energy storage and utilization. A key emphasis of this research lies in integrating encapsulated perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells to the demanding operating conditions of the electrolysis cell. Given the inherent sensitivity of perovskites to moisture, heat, and electrochemical environments, detailed testing will give us tools to assess the performance and possible scalability of this technology. Furthermore, a comparative analysis will be conducted, evaluating the performance of the same electrolysis cell when coupled with a III-V solar cell, providing valuable insights into the advantages and limitations of each solar cell technology in this application. Performance evaluation will encompass comprehensive characterization of hydrogen production rates, overall system efficiency, and long-term operational stability. Ultimately, this research aims to advance the development of compact, high-efficiency solar-driven hydrogen production systems, leveraging the potential of perovskite-silicon tandem solar cells for a sustainable energy future.