Gas fixation solar cell using gas diffusion semiconductor electrode
First Claim
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1. A gas diffusion semiconductor solar cell comprising in combination:
- a gas diffusion photosensitive electrode comprising a central electrolyte-porous matrix layer having an activated semiconductor material on one side in contact with an electrolyte forming one side of a flowing liquid electrolyte chamber and a hydrophobic gas diffusion region on the opposite side of said porous matrix layer;
an opposing light passing counterelectrode forming the opposite side of said electrolyte chamber whereby light may pass through said counterelectrode and said liquid electrolyte to illuminate said semiconductor material;
said electrolyte within said electrolyte chamber capable of providing ionic conductance between said electrode and counterelectrode, said electrolyte chamber having a light passing and ionic conducting separator for chemical separation of anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte; and
an external electrical circuit between said electrode and counterelectrode.
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Abstract
A gas diffusion semiconductor electrode and solar cell and a process for gaseous fixation, such as nitrogen photoreduction, CO2 photoreduction and fuel gas photo-oxidation. The gas diffusion photosensitive electrode has a central electrolyte-porous matrix with an activated semiconductor material on one side adapted to be in contact with an electrolyte and a hydrophobic gas diffusion region on the opposite side adapted to be in contact with a supply of molecular gas.
162 Citations
52 Claims
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1. A gas diffusion semiconductor solar cell comprising in combination:
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a gas diffusion photosensitive electrode comprising a central electrolyte-porous matrix layer having an activated semiconductor material on one side in contact with an electrolyte forming one side of a flowing liquid electrolyte chamber and a hydrophobic gas diffusion region on the opposite side of said porous matrix layer; an opposing light passing counterelectrode forming the opposite side of said electrolyte chamber whereby light may pass through said counterelectrode and said liquid electrolyte to illuminate said semiconductor material; said electrolyte within said electrolyte chamber capable of providing ionic conductance between said electrode and counterelectrode, said electrolyte chamber having a light passing and ionic conducting separator for chemical separation of anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte; and an external electrical circuit between said electrode and counterelectrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. In a gas diffusion semiconductor solar cell, a gas diffusion photosensitive electrode comprising;
- a central electrolyte-porous matrix layer having an activated semiconductor material on one side adapted to be in contact with an electrolyte and a hydrophobic gas diffusion region on the opposite side adapted to be in contact with a supply of molecular gas for passage in sequence through said hydrophobic gas diffusion region and said central porous matrix layer to contact the semiconductor-electrolyte interface causing photofixation of said gas upon illumination of said semiconductor material.
- View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A process for gaseous photofixation comprising the steps:
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passing a gas through a hydrophobic gas diffusion region on one side of a porous matrix diffusion layer of a gas diffusion photosensitive electrode and contacting a semiconductor material supported by the other side of said porous matrix diffusion layer; passing illumination through an opposing light passing counterelectrode and a liquid electrolyte in contact with said counterelectrode and said electrode to illuminate said semiconductor producing a shift in the potential of the semiconductor causing an electrode photocurrent, said electrode photocurrent causing fixation of said gas by reduction of the gas with a p-type semiconductor at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface with concomitant oxidation of the electrolyte at the counterelectrode or oxidation of the gas with an n-type semiconductor at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface with concomitant reduction of the electrolyte at the counterelectrode; providing ionic conductance between the electrode and counterelectrode by a flowing liquid electrolyte in contact with said electrode and counterelectrode, the anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte being chemically separated by a light passing and ionic conducting separator; providing removal of the fixed gas from and supply of electroactive electrolyte to said electrode by said flowing electrolyte; and passing electrons through an external electronic circuit for completion of the electronic circuit. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A process for molecular gas photo-reduction comprising the steps:
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passing molecular gas to be reduced through a hydrophobic gas diffusion region on one side of a porous matrix diffusion layer of a gas diffusion photosensitive cathode and contacting a p-type semiconductor supported by the other side of said porous matrix diffusion layer; passing illumination through an opposing light passing anode and a liquid electrolyte in contact with said anode and said cathode to illuminate said p-type semiconductor producing a positive shift in the potential of the semiconductor causing a cathodic photocurrent, said cathodic photocurrent causing reduction of the molecular gas to a fixed state at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface with concomitant oxidation of the electrolyte at the anode; providing ionic conductance between the cathode and anode by a flowing liquid electrolyte in contact with said cathode and anode, the anolyte and catholyte portions of the electrolyte being chemically separated by a light passing and ionic conducting separator; providing removal of the formed fixed material from and supply of electroactive electrolyte to said cathode by said flowing electrolyte; and passing electrons produced by oxidation of said electrolyte at said anode through an external electronic circuit to said cathode for completion of the electronic circuit, said external electronic circuit providing a bias voltage to said cathode from an external power source. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A process for fuel gas photo oxidation comprising the steps:
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passing fuel gas selected from the group consisting of methane, butane, propane, carbon monoxide and ammonia to be oxidized through a hydrophobic gas diffusion region on one side of a porous matrix diffusion layer of a gas diffusion photosensitive anode and contacting an n-type semiconductor supported by the other side of said porous matrix diffusion layer; illuminating said n-type semiconductor producing a negative shift in the potential of the semiconductor causing an anodic photocurrent, said anodic photocurrent causing oxidation of said fuel gas at the semiconductor-electrolyte interface with concomitant reduction at a gas diffusion oxygen/air cathode; providing ionic conductance between the cathode and anode by a liquid electrolyte in contact with said cathode and anode; and withdrawing electrical energy in an external circuit between the electrodes.
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Specification