Photo-assisted electrolysis cell with p-silicon and n-silicon electrodes
First Claim
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1. An improved photocathode comprising:
- a p-type silicon body; and
a catalyst on at least one surface of said body, said catalyst being selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, gold, silver, cobalt molybdate and nickel molybdate, and being present in island form and in a total amount of approximately three monolayers.
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Abstract
The photoelectrolysis of water by solar radiation to produce hydrogen and oxygen is achieved using semiconductor electrodes. The cell comprises a p-silicon wafer treated with catalyst as photocathode and metal doped n-silicon wafer as photoanode. The cell is operated at a small bias potential.
25 Citations
16 Claims
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1. An improved photocathode comprising:
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a p-type silicon body; and a catalyst on at least one surface of said body, said catalyst being selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, gold, silver, cobalt molybdate and nickel molybdate, and being present in island form and in a total amount of approximately three monolayers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An improved photocathode comprising;
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a p-type silicon body; and nickel catalyst on at least one surface of said body in island form and in an amount of approximately three monolayers. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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6. An improved photoanode comprising;
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an n-silicon body; a film of SiO2 covering at least one surface of said n-silicon body; and an electrically conductive dopant dispersed in said film, said dopant being selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, nickel, cobalt, gold, rhodium, ruthenium and tellurium. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An improved photoanode comprising;
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an n-silicon body; a film of silicon dioxide covering at least one surface of said n-silicon body; and an electrically conductive quantity of platinum dispersed in said silicon dioxide film. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A photoelectric cell comprising:
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a container; an aqueous electrolyte in said container; a photocathode and a photoanode mounted in said container and each having at least one surface in contact with said electrolyte, means electrically interconnecting said photocathode and said photoanode; and means for admitting light to the said surfaces of said photocathode and said photoanode; said photocathode comprising, a p-type silicon body and a catalyst on the said surface of said body, said catalyst being selected from the group consisting of nickel, platinum, gold, silver, cobalt, cobalt molybdate and nickel molybdate, and being deposited on said silicon body surface in island form; and said photoanode comprising, an n-type silicon body, a film of silicon dioxide covering the said surface of said n-silicon body; and an electrically conductive dopant dispersed in said film, said dopant being selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, nickel, cobalt, gold, rhodium, ruthenium and tellurium. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification