Summary:
- Photoelectrolysis is the generation of electricity using photovoltaic cells to split water molecules.
- This technique is still in the research stage, but appears to be a very promising source of power in the future.
- The electrolytic cell consists of a pair of platinum electrodes immersed in water to which a small amount of an electrolyte such as H2SO4 has been added.
- At the anode, water is oxidized to oxygen gas and hydrogen ions, and at the cathode water is reduced to hydrogen gas and hydroxide ions.