Anodic stabilization and decomposition mechanisms in semiconductor (photo)-electrochemistry

Abstract The influence of the light intensity, of the reducing agent concentration and of the further composition of the liquid phase on the kinetics of the competition between stabilization and decomposition of semiconductor electrodes is discussed. The competition mechanisms proposed for Group III–V compound electrodes are shown to be confirmed by the observed current-potential and current-concentration behaviour of p-type electrodes. Additional evidence for the different decomposition mechanisms is presented, which follows from hole injection studies on n-type electrodes. Possible reasons for the occurrence of either direct or indirect hole transfer as well as the relevance of this problem with respect to solar energy conversion are discussed.