Oxide Semiconductors for Solar Energy Conversion

<p>Oxide semiconductors including titanium dioxide (TiO2) are increasingly being considered as replacements for silicon in the development of the next generation of solar cells. <strong>Oxide Semiconductors for Solar Energy Conversion: Titanium Dioxide</strong> presents the basic properties of binary metal oxide semiconductors and the performance-related properties of TiO2 as they relate to solar energy.</p><p>The book provides a general background on oxide semiconductors based on binary oxides and their solid solutions including electronic and ionic conductors. It covers several aspects of solid-state electrochemistry of oxides such as defect chemistry and defect-related properties such as electrical properties diffusion segregation and reactivity. The author also takes a pioneering approach in considering bulk versus surface semiconducting properties showing how they are different due to the effect of segregation. </p><p>One of the first on semiconducting photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical properties of TiO2 and its solid solutions with donor- and acceptor-type ions the book discusses defect chemistry of TiO2 in terms of defect equilibria and defect-related properties including electrical properties self and chemical diffusion surface properties segregation and reactivity and photoreactivity with oxygen water and microbial agents. The text also illustrates the use of TiO2 as an emerging material for solar energy conversion systems including the generation of hydrogen fuel by photoelectrochemical water splitting the photocatalytic purification of water and the generation of photovoltaic electricity. In addition it presents defect disorder diagrams for the formation of TiO2-based semiconductors with controlled properties. </p><p>Encompassing the areas of solid-state science surface chemistry and photocatalysis this book reflects the increasing awareness of the importance of structural imperfections such as point defects in understanding the properties of metal oxides specifically TiO2-based semiconductors. </p>