Superlattice photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical cells
Abstract
A superlattice or multiple-quantum-well semiconductor is used as a photoelectrode in a photoelectrochemical process for converting solar energy into useful fuels or chemicals. The quantum minibands of the superlattice or multiple-quantum-well semiconductor effectively capture hot-charge carriers at or near their discrete quantum energies and deliver them to drive a chemical reaction in an electrolyte. The hot-charge carries can be injected into the electrolyte at or near the various discrete multiple energy levels quantum minibands, or they can be equilibrated among themselves to a hot-carrier pool and then injected into the electrolyte at one average energy that is higher than the lowest quantum band gap in the semiconductor.
- Inventors:
-
- Boulder, CO
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Midwest Research Institute, Kansas City, MO (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 866102
- Patent Number(s):
- 4634641
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y02 - TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE Y02P - CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC02-83CH10093
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- superlattice; photoelectrodes; photoelectrochemical; cells; multiple-quantum-well; semiconductor; photoelectrode; process; converting; solar; energy; useful; fuels; chemicals; quantum; minibands; effectively; capture; hot-charge; carriers; near; discrete; energies; deliver; drive; chemical; reaction; electrolyte; carries; injected; various; multiple; levels; equilibrated; hot-carrier; pool; average; lowest; band; gap; photoelectrochemical cells; charge carrier; photoelectrochemical cell; average energy; converting solar; charge carriers; energy level; band gap; electrochemical cells; electrochemical cell; solar energy; chemical reaction; chemical process; energy levels; electrochemical process; /429/204/
Citation Formats
Nozik, Arthur J. Superlattice photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical cells. United States: N. p., 1987.
Web.
Nozik, Arthur J. Superlattice photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical cells. United States.
Nozik, Arthur J. Thu .
"Superlattice photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical cells". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/866102.
@article{osti_866102,
title = {Superlattice photoelectrodes for photoelectrochemical cells},
author = {Nozik, Arthur J},
abstractNote = {A superlattice or multiple-quantum-well semiconductor is used as a photoelectrode in a photoelectrochemical process for converting solar energy into useful fuels or chemicals. The quantum minibands of the superlattice or multiple-quantum-well semiconductor effectively capture hot-charge carriers at or near their discrete quantum energies and deliver them to drive a chemical reaction in an electrolyte. The hot-charge carries can be injected into the electrolyte at or near the various discrete multiple energy levels quantum minibands, or they can be equilibrated among themselves to a hot-carrier pool and then injected into the electrolyte at one average energy that is higher than the lowest quantum band gap in the semiconductor.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1987},
month = {1}
}