Experimental study on the effects of light intensity on energy conversion efficiency of photo-thermo chemical synergetic catalytic water splitting

Hydrogen production from water using a catalyst and solar energy was an ideal future fuel source. In this study, an elaborate experimental test rig of hydrogen production from solar water splitting was designed and established with self-controlled temperature system. The effects of light intensity on the reaction rate of hydrogen production from solar water splitting were experimentally investigated with the consideration of optical losses, reaction temperature, and photo catalysts powder cluster. Besides, a revised expression of full-spectrum solar-to hydrogen energy conversion efficiency with the consideration of optical losses was also put forward, which can be more accurate to evaluate the full-spectrum solar-to-hydrogen energy of photo-catalysts powders. The results indicated that optical losses of solar water splitting reactor increased with the increase of the incoming light intensity, and the hydrogen production rate increased linearly with the increase of effective light intensity even at higher light intensity region when the optical losses of solar water splitting reactor were considered.