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Visible light to electrical energy conversion using photoelectrochemical cells

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5249232
; ;

Sustained conversion of low energy visible or near i.r. light (>1.25eV) to electrical energy has been obtained using wet photoelectrochemical cells where there are no net chemical changes in the system. Stabilization of n-type semi-conductor anodes of CdS, CdSe, CdTe, GaP, GaAs and InP to photoanodic dissolution is achieved by employing selected alkaline solutions of Na/sub 2/S, Na/sub 2/S/S, Na/sub 2/Se, Na/sub 2/Se/Se, Na/sub 2/Te and Na/sub 2/Te/Te as the electrolyte. The oxidation of (poly) sulfide, (poly)selenide or (poly)telluride species occurs at the irradiated anode, and reduction of polysulfide, polyselenide or polytelluride species occurs at the dark Pt cathode of the photoelectrochemical cell. Optical to electrical energy conversion efficiencies approaching 15% at selected frequencies have been observed in some cells. The wavelength for the onset of photocurrent corresponds to the band gap of the particular anode material used in the cell.

Assignee:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Patent Number(s):
US 4414300
OSTI ID:
5249232
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANODES
ARSENIC COMPOUNDS
ARSENIDES
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CADMIUM SELENIDES
CADMIUM SULFIDES
CADMIUM TELLURIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
ELECTRIC POWER
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION
ENERGY CONVERSION
EQUIPMENT
FABRICATION
GALLIUM ARSENIDES
GALLIUM COMPOUNDS
GALLIUM PHOSPHIDES
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INDIUM PHOSPHIDES
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
OXIDATION
PHOSPHIDES
PHOSPHORS
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CONVERSION
PNICTIDES
POWER
RADIATIONS
REDUCTION
SELENIDES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM COMPOUNDS
SODIUM SULFIDES
SODIUM TELLURIDES
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLAR RADIATION
STELLAR RADIATION
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TELLURIDES
TELLURIUM COMPOUNDS
VISIBLE RADIATION