Interconnected Photoelectrochemical Cell
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A photoelectrode comprising:
- a substrate that is transparent and insulating;
a front contact layer comprising a transparent conducting layer deposited on the substrate as a front electrode (Electrode A) for a photovoltaic cell;
at least one of single-junction semiconductor pn or pin layers, or multiple-junction stacked pin or pin layers, that generate photovoltage under illumination;
a back contact layer which is electrically conductive to form a back Electrode B, which may be either a cathode or an anode but is opposite to the Electrode A;
an insulating layer that covers portions of the back contact layer;
a conducting layer that is electrically connected to the transparent conducting layer (Electrode A), the conducting layer being either anode or cathode depending on the polarity of the photovoltaic cell, but is opposite to Electrode B; and
optionallyan oxygen evolution reaction layer; and
further optionally, a hydrogen evolution reaction layer, adapted to cover all or portions of the anode and the cathode, respectively, and to protect the photovoltaic cell from chemical and electrochemical corrosion.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An interconnected photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell (1) generates hydrogen and oxygen from water while being illuminated with radiation such as sunlight. The photovoltaic structure in the photoelectrode is deposited on a transparent and insulating substrate (also called superstrate) (3) that is covered with a transparent conducting layer (front electrode) (4). The front electrode is electrically connected to the back side of the photovoltaic structure such that the PLC cell can be made with high efficiency and high durability and at low cost. Three types of photoelectrodes and phtoelectrochemical cells are illustrated as examples.
65 Citations
38 Claims
-
1. A photoelectrode comprising:
-
a substrate that is transparent and insulating; a front contact layer comprising a transparent conducting layer deposited on the substrate as a front electrode (Electrode A) for a photovoltaic cell; at least one of single-junction semiconductor pn or pin layers, or multiple-junction stacked pin or pin layers, that generate photovoltage under illumination; a back contact layer which is electrically conductive to form a back Electrode B, which may be either a cathode or an anode but is opposite to the Electrode A; an insulating layer that covers portions of the back contact layer; a conducting layer that is electrically connected to the transparent conducting layer (Electrode A), the conducting layer being either anode or cathode depending on the polarity of the photovoltaic cell, but is opposite to Electrode B; and
optionallyan oxygen evolution reaction layer; and
further optionally, a hydrogen evolution reaction layer, adapted to cover all or portions of the anode and the cathode, respectively, and to protect the photovoltaic cell from chemical and electrochemical corrosion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method of making a photoelectrode comprising:
-
selecting a substrate that is transparent and insulating; forming a transparent conducting layer on the substrate as a front electrode (Electrode A) for a photovoltaic cell; forming at least one of single-junction semiconductor pn or pin layers, or multiple-junction stacked pin or pin layers, that generate photovoltage under illumination; forming a back contact layer which is electrically conductive to form a back contact (Electrode B), which may be either cathode or anode but is opposite to Electrode A; forming an insulating layer that covers portions of the back contact (Electrode B); forming a conducting layer that is electrically connected to the transparent conducting layer (Electrode A), the conducting layer being either anode or cathode depending on the polarity of the photovoltaic cell, but being opposite to Electrode B; and
, optionally,forming an oxygen evolution reaction layer and an hydrogen evolution reaction layer to cover all or portions of the anode and the cathode, respectively, and to protect the photovoltaic cell from chemical and electrochemical corrosion. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
- 26. The method of 25, wherein the solar cells comprise at least one of single-junction solar cell or low-voltage double-junction solar cells.
-
37. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising
a photoelectrode, an electrolyte, either alkaline or acidic, with which both anode and cathode are in contact; -
compartments for oxidation reaction where oxygen is generated; compartments for reduction reaction where hydrogen is generated; ion conduction layers placed between a oxidation compartment and a reduction compartment; and an enclosure that confines the electrolyte for electrolysis. - View Dependent Claims (38)
-
Specification