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Electrolytic photodissociation of chemical compounds by iron oxide electrodes

Patent ·
OSTI ID:865100
Chemical compounds can be dissociated by contacting the same with a p/n type semi-conductor diode having visible light as its sole source of energy. The diode consists of low cost, readily available materials, specifically polycrystalline iron oxide doped with silicon in the case of the n-type semi-conductor electrode, and polycrystalline iron oxide doped with magnesium in the case of the p-type electrode. So long as the light source has an energy greater than 2.2 electron volts, no added energy source is needed to achieve dissociation.
Research Organization:
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
Assignee:
Regents of University of California (Berkeley, CA)
Patent Number(s):
US 4460443
OSTI ID:
865100
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English