Photoelectrochemical cell

Patent · Tue Aug 16 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6827797

Gibbons, J F; Cogan, G W; Gronet, C M; Lewis, N S

A photoelectrochemical cell is described having improved solar to electrical energy efficiency in the range of 10% and above, comprising a semiconductor photoactive electrode, a nonaqueous solvent and an electrolyte dissolved therein forming a ionically conductive solution, a counterelectrode providing an electrical connection from the solution to the photoactive electrode; and a redox couple dissolved in the solvent suitable to accept and donate electrons from and to the electrodes upon incidence upon the cell by an external source of light. The redox couple is present in an amount sufficient to sustain a predetermined current; wherein the concentrations of the electrolyte and the redox couple in the solution are selected to provide no greater than a predetermined small voltage drop in comparison to the output voltage of the cell during conversion in the cell of the light to electricity. The solvent comprises a mixture of alkylene carbonate and an alcohol of 1-10 carbon atoms and the redox couple is a ferrocene-ferrocenium salt or derivative thereof.

• Assignee: Sera Solar Corp., Santa Clara, CA
• Patent Number(s): US 4764439
• OSTI ID: 6827797
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
140505* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photochemical
Photobiological
& Thermochemical Conversion-- (1980-)
ALCOHOLS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBONATES
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CONDUCTIVITY
ELECTRIC CONTACTS
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL PROPERTIES
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
EQUIPMENT
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
IONIC CONDUCTIVITY
IRON COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
PHOTOELECTROLYTIC CELLS
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
REDOX POTENTIAL
SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SOLUTES
SOLVENTS
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS