Light energy conversion system
First Claim
1. A light energy conversion system comprising:
- a redox reaction chamber provided with first and second cells intercommunicating through a bridge and respectively containing first and second aqueous solutions of the same kind, and first and second gas outlet means extending outwardly of the first and second cells, respectively;
a semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure having a first non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer of a P or N first conductivity type, an I type second non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, and a heavily doped, third non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type opposite that of the first conductivity type of the first non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer formed on the second non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer;
a first electrode in contact with the first aqueous solution contained in the first cell of the redox reaction chamber;
a second electrode connected to the first non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer of the photoelectric conversion semiconductor structure and paired with the first electrode; and
means for electrically interconnecting the first and second electrodes; and
wherein the semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure is provided in the second cell (a) so that it forms a part of the cell wall, (b) so that light is incident on the semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure directly without passing through the second aqueous solution, and (c) so that only the portion of the semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure on the side of the third non-single-crystalline semiconductor is held in contact with the second aqueous solution.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure having a PIN junction is assembled as a unitary structure with a redox chamber, with the P (or N) type semiconductor layer of the former being heavily doped and held in contact with an aqueous solution contained in a cell compartment of the redox reaction chamber. By interconnecting a second electrode connected to the N (or P) type semiconductor layer of the semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure and a first electrode held in contact with an aqueous solution contained in another cell compartment of the redox reaction chamber, H2 (or O2) and O2 (or H2) gases are released from the first and second cells, respectively. Alternatively, electric power may be generated by connecting a first lead to the P (or N) type layer and a second lead to the second electrode.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A light energy conversion system comprising:
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a redox reaction chamber provided with first and second cells intercommunicating through a bridge and respectively containing first and second aqueous solutions of the same kind, and first and second gas outlet means extending outwardly of the first and second cells, respectively; a semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure having a first non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer of a P or N first conductivity type, an I type second non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer formed on the first semiconductor layer, and a heavily doped, third non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer of a second conductivity type opposite that of the first conductivity type of the first non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer formed on the second non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer; a first electrode in contact with the first aqueous solution contained in the first cell of the redox reaction chamber; a second electrode connected to the first non-single-crystalline semiconductor layer of the photoelectric conversion semiconductor structure and paired with the first electrode; and means for electrically interconnecting the first and second electrodes; and wherein the semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure is provided in the second cell (a) so that it forms a part of the cell wall, (b) so that light is incident on the semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure directly without passing through the second aqueous solution, and (c) so that only the portion of the semiconductor photoelectric conversion structure on the side of the third non-single-crystalline semiconductor is held in contact with the second aqueous solution. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification