Product intended to be used as a photocatalyst, method for the preparation of such product and utilization of such product
First Claim
1. Product usable as a photocatalyst, comprising a semi-conductor material in the form of discrete particles or as a layer which comprises part of an electrode, said semi-conductor material being subject to photo-corrosion, characterized in that the surface of the semi-conductor material which is intended to be illuminated is covered with a transparent layer of ruthenium oxide (RuO2), iridium oxide (IrO2), or a mixture of ruthenium oxide (RuO2) and iridium oxide (IrO2), which inhibits the photo-corrosion of the semi-conductor material.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The product is in the form of discrete particles or in the form of a layer comprising an electrode. It consists of a semi-conductor material subject to photo-corrosion, for example, cadmium sulphide. In order to prevent such photo-corrosion, the surface of the semi-conductor material, which is intended to be illuminated, is covered with a transparent layer of RuO2, IrO2 or a mixture of RuO2 and IrO2.
The product may be used for the conversion of solar energy into electric energy or into a fuel such as hydrogen.
81 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. Product usable as a photocatalyst, comprising a semi-conductor material in the form of discrete particles or as a layer which comprises part of an electrode, said semi-conductor material being subject to photo-corrosion, characterized in that the surface of the semi-conductor material which is intended to be illuminated is covered with a transparent layer of ruthenium oxide (RuO2), iridium oxide (IrO2), or a mixture of ruthenium oxide (RuO2) and iridium oxide (IrO2), which inhibits the photo-corrosion of the semi-conductor material.
- 8. Method for the preparation of a product useful as a photocatalyst, characterized in that a transparent layer of ruthenium oxide (RuO2), iridium oxide (IrO2), or a mixture of ruthenium oxide (RuO2) and iridium oxide (IrO2) is formed on the surface intended to be illuminated of a semi-conductor material subject to photo-corrosion in order to protect the semi-conductor material against photo-corrosion.
- 10. Method for producing at least one of electric power and a substance which is chemically transformable with release of energy, said method comprising exposure to electromagnetic radiation of a surface of a semi-conductor material positioned within an electrolyte, said semiconductor material being subject to photocorrosion, said surface being covered with a transparent layer of ruthenium oxide (RuO2), iridium oxide (IrO2), or a mixture thereof, which inhibits the photo-corrosion of said semi-conductor material.
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21. Method for converting light energy into electric energy, comprising:
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providing an anode in which a semi-conductor material is deposited in a polycrystalline state on a conductive support in the form of a layer having a surface in contact with the conductive support and an opposite surface in contact with a transparent layer of ruthenium oxide (RuO2), iridium oxide (IrO2), or a mixture thereof, said semi-conductor material being subject to photo-corrosion and said transparent layer inhibiting said photo-corrosion, and a cathode having a low overvoltage surface for the reduction of a cation, water or CO2, both electrodes being electrically connected together through a useful load and both electrodes being immersed in an aqueous electrolyte comprising a bromine salt; and illuminating the surface of said semi-conductor material in contact with said transparent layer to oxidize bromine anions to molecular bromine at said anode and reduce molecular bromine to bromine anions at said cathode.
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Specification