Photoelectrochemical device

• US 20030062080A1
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Published: 04/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nakahara, Kentaro, Iwasa, Shigeyuki, Iriyama, Jiro, Satoh, Masaharu, Morioka, Yukiko
• Application Number:
  US10/253,085
• Publication Number:
  US 20030062080A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/256
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/20 Light-sensitive devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01G 9/2018 characterised by the ionic charge transport species, e.g. redox shuttles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/542 Dye sensitized solar cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A photoelectrochemical device having new construction, which enables a large stable photoelectric conversion element, an energy storage element and the like to be manufactured at low cost. The photoelectrochemical device is provided with an organic compound which generates a radical compound through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction, and a semiconductor arranged in contact with the organic compound. Preferably, the generated radical compound has a spin density of 10²⁰ spins/g or more. In addition, it is preferable to use as the organic compound an organic polymer compound with the number average molecular weight ranging from 10³ to 10⁷. More specifically, the photoelectrochemical device comprises a semiconductive electrode having a semiconducting layer, an organic compound layer that is in contact with the semiconductive electrode and generates a radical compound through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction, a counter electrode opposing to the semiconductive electrode, and an electrolyte layer arranged between the organic compound layer and counter electrode. In the photoelectrochemical device, irradiating light on the semiconductor effects an electrical, optical, or chemical change through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction.

Claims

1. A photoelectrochemical device comprising:

an organic compound which generates a radical compound through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction; and

a semiconductor arranged in contact with the organic compound.

3. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 1, wherein the radical compound is in a solid state at room temperature, 25±

35°

C.

5. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 1, wherein the organic compound is an organic polymer compound with the number average molecular weight ranging from 10³ to 10⁷.

7. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 3, wherein the organic compound is an organic polymer compound with the number average molecular weight ranging from 10³ to 10⁷.

10. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 1, wherein irradiating light on the semiconductor effects an electrical, optical, or chemical change through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction.

12. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 3, wherein irradiating light on the semiconductor effects an electrical, optical, or chemical change through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction.

13. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 5, wherein irradiating light on the semiconductor effects an electrical, optical, or chemical change through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction.

2. A photoelectrochemical device comprising:

an organic compound which generates a radical compound having a spin density of 10²⁰ spins/g or more through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction; and

a semiconductor arranged in contact with the organic compound.

4. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 2, wherein the radical compound is in a solid state at room temperature, 25±

35°

C.

6. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 2, wherein the organic compound is an organic polymer compound with the number average molecular weight ranging from 10³ to 10⁷.

8. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 4, wherein the organic compound is an organic polymer compound with the number average molecular weight ranging from 10³ to 10⁷.

11. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 2, wherein irradiating light on the semiconductor effects an electrical, optical, or chemical change through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction.

9. A photoelectrochemical device comprising:

a semiconductive electrode having a semiconducting layer;

an organic compound layer that is in contact with the semiconductive electrode, and generates a radical compound through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction;

a counter electrode opposing to the semiconductive electrode; and

an electrolyte layer arranged between the organic compound layer and counter electrode.

14. The photoelectrochemical device claimed in claim 9, wherein irradiating light on the semiconducting layer effects an electrical, optical, or chemical change through electrochemical oxidation reaction and/or reduction reaction.