Photoelectrolysis of water by solar radiation
First Claim
1. A photoelectrolysis cell for producing hydrogen from solar radiation comprisinga. an electrode comprising an outer, chemically inert thin film semiconducting layer supported on at least one inner thin film semiconducting layer of some conductivity type as said outer layer, which is disposed on a supporting conductive substrate, each layer having a bandgap which ranges from about 1.3 to 4.0 eV;
- b. a counter-electrode;
c. means for retaining an electrolyte disposed between the electrode and the counter-electrode;
d. external bias means between the electrode and the counter-electrode for biasing the electrode with from 0 to about -1 V; and
e. means for collecting hydrogen produced.
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Abstract
Photoelectrolysis of water by solar radiation to produce hydrogen is achieved using semiconducting thin film electrodes. The cell comprises (a) an electrode comprising at least one thin film semiconducting layer disposed on a substrate, each layer having a bandgap which ranges from about 1.3 to 4.0 eV; (b) a counter-electrode; (c) an electrolyte disposed between the thin film semiconducting electrode and the counter-electrode; (d) external bias means between the electrode for biasing the electrode with from 0 to about 1 V; and (e) means for collecting hydrogen produced.
125 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A photoelectrolysis cell for producing hydrogen from solar radiation comprising
a. an electrode comprising an outer, chemically inert thin film semiconducting layer supported on at least one inner thin film semiconducting layer of some conductivity type as said outer layer, which is disposed on a supporting conductive substrate, each layer having a bandgap which ranges from about 1.3 to 4.0 eV; -
b. a counter-electrode; c. means for retaining an electrolyte disposed between the electrode and the counter-electrode; d. external bias means between the electrode and the counter-electrode for biasing the electrode with from 0 to about -1 V; and e. means for collecting hydrogen produced. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A process for producing hydrogen from solar radiation comprising
a. exposing to solar radiation an electrode in contact with an electrolyte in turn having a counter-electrode in contact therewith, said electrode comprising an outer, chemically inert thin film semiconducting layer supported on at least one inner thin film semiconducting layer of some conductivity type as said outer layer, said layers being disposed on a supporting conducting substrate, each layer having a bandgap which ranges from about 1.3 to 4.0 eV; -
b. applying a bias between the electrode and the counterelectrode of from 0 to about - 1 V; and c. collecting hydrogen produced. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification