Simulation and optimization of hematite-based photoelectrochemical cells for enhanced solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising approach for sustainable hydrogen production , harnessing solar energy to generate clean fuel. This study focuses on the comprehensive simulation of a PEC cell using a hematite photoanode , platinum cathode, dipped in 1M KOH electrolyte. The solar-to-hydrogen (STH) efficiency is calculated using solar irradiance fluxes ranging from 400 to 800 W/m 2 , with quantum efficiencies ( η Q ) of 0.1 and 0.15, resulting in efficiencies of up to 8.19%. The hydrogen generation rate is analyzed demonstrating an increase from 19 μ g /s to 79 μ g /s as the irradiance flux increases, highlighting the cell’s ability to scale its output under intensified solar input. Simultaneously, current density is observed to rise from 2.14 mA/cm 2 at 400 W/m 2 to 9.89 mA/cm 2 at 800 W/m 2 , underscoring the direct correlation between solar irradiance and charge carrier activity. This simulation provides critical insights into the interplay between material properties, quantum efficiency, and operational parameters, emphasizing the potential for optimizing PEC cells for efficient hydrogen production . The results contribute to the advancement of renewable energy technologies , offering valuable guidelines for the design and scalability of PEC systems in real-world applications. • Simulated PEC Cell with hematite photoanode and platinum cathode in KOH electrolyte. • PEC Cell performance evaluated under varying solar irradiance fluxes (400–800 W/m 2 ). • STH efficiencies up to 8.19% with quantum efficiencies of 0.1 and 0.15. • Current density increases from 2.14 mA/cm² to 9.89 mA/cm² with increasing irradiance.