Thin-film solar-chemical battery: Photo-charging and discharging in amorphous AgAsS2 films

Abstract

We have fabricated a rechargeable photo-chemical battery using ion-hole conducting AgAsS2 films. An asymmetrically-electroded Al/AgAsS 2/SnO2 yields photocurrents and upon illumination it is concomitantly charged up. When the illumination is stopped, the stack discharges electricity into an external circuit. This photo-charging and discharging phenomenon is attributed to a photo-chemical modification of Ag-ion distribution in amorphous AgAsS2. © 2011 American Institute of Physics.