Semiconductor Electrochemistry

The course will be given every second year, next time spring 2016. Contents: Electronic structure of semiconductors and semiconductor statistics. Electronic structure of semiconductor surfaces. Solid-solid junctions. Transport processes in solids and solutions. Electrochemical cells. Space charge models and electrical double layers. Mott-Schottky plots and complexities due to surface states. Models for electron transfer between solids and solutions. Electron transfer between excited molecules and semiconductor electrodes. Electrochemical and photoelectrochemical measurements techniques. Applications of semiconductor electrochemistry in characterisation of stability of metals and semiconductors. Photoelectrochemical applications (utilization of solar energy). Photoelectrochemical processes at semiconductor nanoparticles.

On course completion the student is capable of:

- Explaining all central concepts involved in the description of electron transfer between an electrolytic solution and a semiconductor electrode
- Examples of such concepts are: Energy distribution of ions in solution, density of states in solids, tunneling, rekombinasjon, the Poisson-Boltzmann equation, the reorganisation energy, light absorbtion, quasi-Fermi level, luminescense, dye
- Explaining the basic principles of electron transfer in such systems (isoenergetic charge transefer), including the models of Gerischer and Marcus
- Linking the models for electron transfer at semiconductor electrodes to those for metals
- Explaining the principles for electrochemical cells and electrochemical (including rotating electrodes and impedance) and photoelectrohchemical methods and explain how to perform them and their utility in terms of materials characterisation and efficiency of photoelectrochemical solar cells
- Explaining the principles of photoelectrochemical solar cells and how they are classified
- Explaining the difference between nano-structured and bulk semiconductor electrodes with respect to the phenomena described above
- Explaining the principles behind dye-sensitized solar cells
- Accounting for semiconductor stability in solution
- Describe current trends in photoelectrochemistry

On course completion the student is capable of:

- Performing calculations associated with the phenomena above for given parameters: Photocurrent, open-circuit voltage, densitay of statesin solution, concentration of charge carriers, conductivityin solids and solution, quvantitative interpretation of measurements (including Mott-Schottky plots)
- Deriving the Marcus expression fot the reorganisation energy
- Deriving the Mott-Schottky equation from the Poisson-Boltzmann equation

The course is based on lectures, tutorials and self-studies. The course includes two compulsory problem sets.