Photochemical aspects of solar energy conversion and storage

Conference · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6476710

Bolton, J R

The thermodynamic limitations on the conversion of light energy to work and the kinetic limitations on the conversion of light to stored chemical energy reduce the reasonable efficiency goal for these processes to 25-28% for conversion to electricity and 10-13% for storage as chemical energy. Five types of potential reactions exist: molecular energy storage reactions, such as cis-trans isomerization about a double bond; homolytic bond fission reactions, such as the photolysis of nitrosyl chloride; homogeneous redox reactions, similar to photosynthesis and such as the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water; photoelectrochemical generation by irradiation of a photosensitive electrode, studied for water splitting; and photochemical systems designed to generate electricity through solid-state photovoltaic cells, photogalvanic cells, and regenerative photoelectrochemical cells. So little research has yet been done in all these systems that no economic analysis can be carried out.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Western Ontario
• OSTI ID: 6476710
• Report Number(s): CONF-780681-
• Conference Information: Journal Name: ACS Symp. Ser.; (United States) Journal Volume: 90
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONVERSION
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY STORAGE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
KINETICS
LIMITING VALUES
PHOTOCHEMICAL ENERGY STORAGE
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTIONS
POWER SYSTEMS
SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION
SOLAR-ASSISTED POWER SYSTEMS
STORAGE
THERMODYNAMICS
USES