Photoelectrolysis method and means
First Claim
1. A photoelectrolysis method for decomposing a liquid electrolyte into a plurality of decomposition products, said method comprising the steps ofA. forming a porous layer of an electronically conductive material having a relatively high over-potential for said decomposition products in an electrolytic cell;
- B. laminating a sheet-like porous photovoltaic unit having a total output voltage sufficient to electrolyze said electrolyte on one surface of said layer so that the two are connected together both mechanically and electrically as a panel;
C. coating the opposite surface of said layer with a catalyst having a relatively low overpotential for one of said decomposition products in an electrolytic cell;
D. immersing said panel in said liquid electrolyte; and
E. illuminating said photovoltaic unit with light energy whereby said one of said decomposition products evolves at the coated surface of said layer and another decomposition product evolves at the illuminated surface of said photovoltaic unit, with the panel being a barrier that isolates said evolving products from one another.
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Abstract
An integrated photoelectrolytic apparatus for catalyzing the photodecomposition of a liquid electrolyte, such as water, into its gaseous decomposition products includes a photovoltaic section bonded mechanically and electrically to one surface of a porous electronically conductive barrier section which is arranged to inhibit the evolution of decomposition products at its pore surfaces. A catalyst for the electrolytic evolution of a decomposition product is applied to the opposite surface of said barrier section so that when the bonded-together sections are wetted by an electrolyte and light is incident on the photovoltaic section, one decomposition product evolves at the exposed surface of the photovoltaic section while another decomposition product evolves at the catalytic surface of the barrier section.
57 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A photoelectrolysis method for decomposing a liquid electrolyte into a plurality of decomposition products, said method comprising the steps of
A. forming a porous layer of an electronically conductive material having a relatively high over-potential for said decomposition products in an electrolytic cell; -
B. laminating a sheet-like porous photovoltaic unit having a total output voltage sufficient to electrolyze said electrolyte on one surface of said layer so that the two are connected together both mechanically and electrically as a panel; C. coating the opposite surface of said layer with a catalyst having a relatively low overpotential for one of said decomposition products in an electrolytic cell; D. immersing said panel in said liquid electrolyte; and E. illuminating said photovoltaic unit with light energy whereby said one of said decomposition products evolves at the coated surface of said layer and another decomposition product evolves at the illuminated surface of said photovoltaic unit, with the panel being a barrier that isolates said evolving products from one another. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. Integrated photoelectrolysis apparatus for catalyzing the photodecomposition of water into separate gas streams of hydrogen and oxygen, comprising:
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A. a porous electronically conductive barrier section having opposite surfaces; B. a plural layer photovoltaic section bonded mechanically and electrically to one surface of said barrier section; C. a catalyst on the opposite surface of said barrier section to promote the electrolytic evolution of one of said hydrogen and oxygen gases; D. an aqueous electrolyte permeating said barrier section; and E. inhibiting means in said barrier section for inhibiting the evolution and presence of said gases in the pores of said barrier section when said photovoltaic section is exposed to light, whereby said one of said gases evolves only at said opposite catalytic surface of said barrier section,and the other of said gases evolves only at the surface of said photovoltaic section. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. Photoelectrolysis apparatus for decomposing a liquid electrolyte into a plurality of separate streams of decomposition products comprising
A. a generally fluid-tight enclosure; -
B. a sheet-like, porous, electronically conductive barrier layer having opposite surfaces; C. a sheet-like, porous, plural-layer photovoltaic section bonded mechanically and electrically to one surface of said barrier layer; D. a catalyst coating on the opposite surface of said barrier layer to promote the electrolytic evolution of one of said products at said opposite surface, said layer, section and coating forming a unitary laminated panel; E. means for mounting said panel in said enclosure so as to divide said enclosure into a first chamber contiguous to said photovoltaic section and a second chamber contiguous to said opposite coated surface of said barrier layer; F. means for introducing a liquid electrolyte into said enclosure so that it permeates said layer and section; G. means for preventing current flow from said barrier layer to the electrolyte in the pores of said barrier layer; and H. means for exposing said photovoltaic section to light whereby said one of said products evolves only in said second chamber, and the other of said products evolves only in said first chamber; and I. conduit means attached to said enclosure for conducting fluid from at least one of said chambers. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification