Stable N-CuInSe/sub 2//iodine-iodide photoelectrochemical cell

Patent · Tue Dec 17 00:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:5863168

Cahen, D; Chen, Y W

In a photoelectrochemical solar cell, stable output and solar efficiency in excess of 10% are achieved with a photoanode of n-CuInSe/sub 2/ electrode material and an iodine/iodide redox couple used in a liquid electrolyte. The photoanode is prepared by treating the electrode material by chemical etching, for example in Br/sub 2//MeOH; heating the etched electrode material in air or oxygen; depositing a surface film coating of indium on the electrode material after the initial heating; and thereafter again heating the electrode material in air or oxygen to oxidize the indium. The electrolyte is treated by the addition of Cu/sup +/ or Cu/sup 2 +/ salts and In/sup 3/ salts.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4559282
• OSTI ID: 5863168
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 20 Sep 1984; Other Information: PAT-APPL-652396
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
PHOTOANODES
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
FABRICATION
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
COPPER SELENIDES
DEPOSITION
ELECTROLYTES
ETCHING
HEAT TREATMENTS
INDIUM
INDIUM OXIDES
INDIUM SELENIDES
IODINE
N-TYPE CONDUCTORS
OXIDATION
POTASSIUM IODIDES
REDOX POTENTIAL
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
ANODES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
HALIDES
HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
HALOGENS
INDIUM COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC PHOSPHORS
IODIDES
IODINE COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
METALS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOSPHORS
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
SELENIDES
SELENIUM COMPOUNDS
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACE FINISHING
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
140505* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion- (1980-)