NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 

Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Testing and Evaluation of 

Photoelectrochemical 

Membranes

Cooperative Research and Development 

Final Report

CRADA Number: CRD-08-313

NREL Technical Contact: Todd Deutsch

CRADA Report

NREL/TP-7A10-53850

September 2012
NOTICE

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. 

Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of 

any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately 

owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, 

or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors 

expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/bridge

Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy

and its contractors, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Scientific and Technical Information

P.O. Box 62

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062

phone: 865.576.8401

fax: 865.576.5728

email: mailto:reports@adonis.osti.gov

Available for sale to the public, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

phone: 800.553.6847

fax: 703.605.6900

email: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov

online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/help/ordermethods.aspx

Cover Photos: (left to right) PIX 16416, PIX 17423, PIX 16560, PIX 17613, PIX 17436, PIX 17721

Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste.
1 

Cooperative Research and Development Final Report

In accordance with Requirements set forth in Article XI.A(3) of the CRADA document, this document is 

the final CRADA report, including a list of Subject Inventions, to be forwarded to the Office of Science

and Technical Information as part of the commitment to the public to demonstrate results of federally 

funded research.

CRADA number: CRD-08-313 (WRA8)

CRADA Title: Testing and Evaluation of Photoelectrochemical Membranes

Parties to the Agreement: Synkera Technologies

Joint Work Statement Funding Table showing DOE commitment:

Estimated Costs NREL Shared Resources

Year 1 $ 00.00

Year 2 $ 00.00

Year 3 $ 00.00

TOTALS $ 00.00

Abstract of CRADA work: 

This research work will be undertaken in close coordination with Synkera Technologies and in 

concurrence with the overall objectives of the Synkera DOE SBIR Phase II project. The subcontract is 

conditional on Synkera receiving the DOE Phase II SBIR award.

Summary of Research Results: 

NREL characterized electrodes provided by Synkera composed of semiconductor light-absorbing 

material applied to nanoporous alumina membranes. The semiconductor materials were deposited 

within the pores of the membranes by atomic layer deposition. NREL used photoelectrochemical 

characterization techniques to estimate the electrodes’ suitability for solar water-splitting applications 

by determining the band gap, band edge alignment, and ability to generate photocurrent. The 

electrodes exhibited wide band gaps that led to low photoconversion efficiencies under broadband 

illumination, even under a high reverse bias. The band edge measurements indicated the potential of 

the conduction band edge was insufficient to drive water reduction without a bias. Results of stability 

analysis were non-ideal, evidenced by a decline in photocurrent over a few hours of testing and the 

propensity for mechanical macroscopic cracking of the membrane electrodes. The materials and 

geometries tested have no hope for solar-water splitting at a reasonable efficiency.

Subject Inventions listing: None

Report Date: 7/17/2012 Responsible Technical Contact at Alliance/NREL: Todd Deutsch

This document contains NO confidential, protectable, or proprietary information.