Photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device and processes
First Claim
1. A photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
- at least one container comprising at least one bottom portion and at least one sidewall portion;
an electrolyte solution positioned in said at least one container, said electrolyte solution comprising at least one electrolyzable compound;
at least one diode comprising at least one n-type region and at least one p-type region, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, thereby forming at least one p-n junction; and
a plurality of separate photocathode elements positioned within said at least one container, each said photocathode element being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material, each said photocathode element being at least partially immersed in said electrolyte solution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
There are provided photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical devices each comprising a diode and a plurality of separate photocathode elements. Preferably, the devices are positioned in a container in which they are at least partially immersed in electrolyte. Preferably, the devices are positioned in a container which has at least one photocathode reaction product vent and at least one anode reaction product vent. Preferably, the devices are positioned in a container which has an internal partial wall extending from a top portion of the container toward, but not reaching, a bottom portion of the container, the internal partial wall being positioned between the photocathode elements and an anode element which is electrically connected to the p-region of the diode. There are also provided photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical methods using such devices, and methods of making such devices.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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at least one container comprising at least one bottom portion and at least one sidewall portion;
an electrolyte solution positioned in said at least one container, said electrolyte solution comprising at least one electrolyzable compound;
at least one diode comprising at least one n-type region and at least one p-type region, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, thereby forming at least one p-n junction; and
a plurality of separate photocathode elements positioned within said at least one container, each said photocathode element being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material, each said photocathode element being at least partially immersed in said electrolyte solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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at least one container comprising at least one bottom portion, at least one sidewall portion and at least one top portion, at least one photocathode reaction product vent and at least one anode reaction product vent being formed in said at least one container, said at least one container defining an internal volume which is substantially gas-tight, with the exception of said at least one photocathode reaction product vent and said at least one anode reaction product vent;
at least one diode comprising at least one n-type region and at least one p-type region, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, so as to form at least one p-n junction; and
a plurality of separate photocathode elements positioned within said at least one container, each said photocathode element being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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at least one container comprising at least one bottom portion, at least one sidewall portion and at least one top portion;
at least one diode comprising at least one n-type region and at least one p-type region, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, so as to form at least one p-n junction;
a plurality of separate photocathode elements positioned within said at least one container, each said photocathode element being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material; and
at least one anode element which is electrically connected to said at least one p-type region, said at least one container further comprising at least one internal partial wall extending from said at least one top portion toward, but not reaching, said at least one bottom portion, said at least one internal partial wall being positioned between said plurality of separate photocathode elements and said at least one anode element.
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16. A photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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at least one diode, said at least one diode comprising a doped polycrystalline material and having at least one n-type region and at least one p-type region, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, so as to form a p-n junction; and
a plurality of separate photocathode elements, each said photocathode element being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical process, comprising:
subjecting to light at least one diode, said at least one diode comprising at least one n-type region and at least one p-type region, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, thereby forming at least one p-n junction, said at least one n-type region being electrically connected with a plurality of separate photocathode elements, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material, said plurality of photocathode elements being positioned in at least one container, said at least one container comprising at least one bottom portion and at least one sidewall portion, an electrolyte solution being positioned in said container, said electrolyte solution comprising at least one electrolyzable compound, each said photocathode element being at least partially immersed in said electrolyte solution.
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19. A method of making a photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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doping at least a first region of a semiconductor substrate with at least one p-dopant to form at least one p-type region of a diode;
doping at least a second region of said semiconductor substrate with at least one n-dopant to form at least one n-type region of said diode, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, thereby forming at least one p-n junction;
epitaxially forming a plurality of separate photocathode elements on said diode, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material and being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region; and
at least partially immersing said photocathode elements in an electrolyte solution positioned in a container, said container comprising at least one bottom portion and at least one sidewall portion, said electrolyte solution comprising at least one electrolyzable compound. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of making a photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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doping at least a first region of a polycrystalline semiconductor substrate with at least one p-dopant to form at least one p-type region of a diode;
doping at least a second region of said polycrystalline semiconductor substrate with at least one n-dopant to form at least one n-type region of said diode, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, thereby forming at least one p-n junction; and
epitaxially forming a plurality of separate photocathode elements on said diode, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material and being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region.
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30. A method of making a photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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doping at least a first region of a semiconductor substrate with at least one p-dopant to form at least one p-type region of a diode;
doping at least a second region of said semiconductor substrate with at least one n-dopant to form at least one n-type region of said diode, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, thereby forming at least one p-n junction;
epitaxially forming a plurality of separate photocathode elements on said diode, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material and being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region; and
positioning said diode and said photocathode elements in a container comprising at least one bottom portion, at least one sidewall portion and at least one top portion, at least one photocathode reaction product vent and at least one anode reaction product vent being formed in said container, said container defining an internal volume which is substantially gas-tight, with the exception of said at least one photocathode reaction product vent and said at least one anode reaction product vent.
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31. A method of making a photovoltaic-photoelectrochemical device, comprising:
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doping at least a first region of a semiconductor substrate with at least one p-dopant to form at least one p-type region of a diode;
doping at least a second region of said semiconductor substrate with at least one n-dopant to form at least one n-type region of said diode, said at least one n-type region and said at least one p-type region being in contact with each other, thereby forming at least one p-n junction;
epitaxially forming a plurality of separate photocathode elements on said diode, each said photocathode element comprising electrically conductive material and being electrically connected with said at least one n-type region;
electrically connecting said at least one p-type region to at least one anode element; and
positioning said diode, said photocathode elements and said at least one anode element in a container, said container comprising at least one bottom portion, at least one sidewall portion, at least one top portion, and at least one internal partial wall extending from said at least one top portion toward, but not reaching, said at least one bottom portion, such that said at least one internal partial wall is positioned between said plurality of separate photocathode elements and said at least one anode element.
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Specification