Abstract
Fine platinum (Pt) particles were electrodeposited on n-type silicon (n-Si) electrodes from an aqueous hexachloroplatinic acid (IV) solution by single potential step and double potential step (DPS) methods. The distribution density of the Pt particles on the electrode increased from 109 to 1010 cm−2 as the pulse potential at the initial step of the DPS method decreased from −1 to −4 V vs. SCE. The size of the Pt particles became larger with increasing the electricity passing across the electrode surface. Photoelectrochemical solar cells equipped with Pt-electrodeposited n-Si electrodes generated open-circuit photovoltage of 0.6 V and provided an energy conversion efficiency of 10%. Solar cell characteristics changed with the size and distribution density of the Pt particles.
