Photoelectrolysis of water by solar radiation

Patent · Tue May 23 04:00:00 EDT 1978

OSTI ID:6524057

Nozik, A J

Photoelectrolysis of water by solar radiation to produce hydrogen is achieved using semiconducting thin film electrodes. The cell consists of an anodic electrode containing at least one thin n-type semiconducting layer which has a bandgap ranging from about 0.5 to 4.0 eV. It is on a supporting conductive, substrate. A cathodic counter-electrode including at least one thin p-type semiconducting layer with a bandgap from about 0.5 to 4.0 eV is supported on a supporting conductive substrate. The p-type layer is adjacent to the n-type layer so that incident solar radiation impinges substantially simultaneously on both the n- and p-type electrodes. A means is shown for retaining an electrolyte in contact with the exposed surfaces of the n- and p-type semiconducting electrodes. External bias is provided between the electrode and the counter-electrode for biasing the cell with from 0 to about 1 V. Means for collecting hydrogen and any oxidation products produced are available.

• Assignee: Allied Chemical Corp.
• Patent Number(s): US 4090933
• OSTI ID: 6524057
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

08 HYDROGEN
080101 -- Hydrogen-- Production-- Electrolysis
14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
ANODES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CRYOGENIC FLUIDS
DECOMPOSITION
DESIGN
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTES
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
ELEMENTS
FLUIDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
IMPINGEMENT
LYSIS
NONMETALS
OXYGEN
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
PHOTOELECTROLYSIS
PHOTOELECTROLYTIC CELLS
WATER