Photocatalytic fuel cells use light as a catalyst to degrade organic molecules in wastewater, while simultaneously producing electricity. The goal of this project was to increase the efficiency of the photoanode by optimizing the fabrication process of a bismuth-doped electrode through process changes such as, deposition method, layers of bismuth, photo-deposition of cobalt, and the ZnO nanotubes reaction time. The optimized fabrication process comprised of a 3-hour ZnO nanotubes reaction time, 6 layers of bismuth using the spin coating technique at 2000 RPM for 35 seconds, and then depositing cobalt. 6 layers of bismuth doping increased current density output by a factor of 11.3, form 0.129 mA/cm2 to 1.46 mA/cm2. Bismuth proved to be an effective doping chemical with a promising future.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Patil, Ankush Yuvraj

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-043014-093335

Advisor

• Deskins, N Aaron

Year

• 2014

Center

• Shanghai, China Project Center - MQP

Sponsor

• Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Date created

• 2014-04-30

地点

• Shanghai

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright