Photoelectrochemical cells having functions as a solar cell and a secondary cell
First Claim
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1. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
- a positive electrode made of a conductive semiconductor which is able to generate electron-hole pairs when irradiated with light and a Chevrel compound having a three-dimensional structure which allows metal atoms thereof to be deintercalated in the form of metal ions by reaction with said holes;
a current collector for said positive electrode provided in contact with said positive electrode;
a metal ion conductive solid electrolyte layer provided in contact with one side of said positive electrode to receive said metal ions when said Chevrel compound is deintercalated;
a negative electrode provided in contact with said solid electrolyte layer without direct contact with said positive electrode; and
a current collector for said negative electrode provided in contact with said negative electrode, whereby when light is irradiated on said positive electrode so that said conductive semiconductor adsorbs light at an energy level higher than a band gap thereof, said cell is photoelectrochemically charged and is discharged when said positive and negative electrodes are electrically connected.
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Abstract
Photoelectrochemical cells comprising a positive electrode comprised of an n-type conductive semiconductor and a compound capable of reversibly intercalating or deintercalating metal atoms or ions, an ion conductive solid electrolyte layer, a negative electrode, and current collectors for the positive and negative electrodes. The intercalating or deintercalating compound is a Chevrel compound or vornite. The photoelectrochemical cell serves as both solar and secondary cells. Various cell constructions are also described including a multi-layered structure and a two-cell construction.
37 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
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a positive electrode made of a conductive semiconductor which is able to generate electron-hole pairs when irradiated with light and a Chevrel compound having a three-dimensional structure which allows metal atoms thereof to be deintercalated in the form of metal ions by reaction with said holes; a current collector for said positive electrode provided in contact with said positive electrode; a metal ion conductive solid electrolyte layer provided in contact with one side of said positive electrode to receive said metal ions when said Chevrel compound is deintercalated; a negative electrode provided in contact with said solid electrolyte layer without direct contact with said positive electrode; and a current collector for said negative electrode provided in contact with said negative electrode, whereby when light is irradiated on said positive electrode so that said conductive semiconductor adsorbs light at an energy level higher than a band gap thereof, said cell is photoelectrochemically charged and is discharged when said positive and negative electrodes are electrically connected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising a positive electrode including a photo-electrode comprised of (Tia Zr1-a)S2-b in which 0.5≦
- a≦
0.75 and b≧
0.1 and a capacitive electrode comprised of a Cux Mo6 S8-y, in which 0<
x≦
4 and y is from 0 to 0.4 and formed on one side of said photo-electrode, a current collector for said positive electrode formed on another side of said photo-electrode in a manner not impeding passage of light into said photo-electrode from another side, a Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte layer, a copper-containing negative electrode, and a current collector for said negative electrode, said positive electrode, said solid electrolyte layer, said negative electrode and said current collector for said negative electrode being superposed in this order. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39)
- a≦
- 40. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising an optically transparent substrate, a positive electrode which comprises an n-type semiconductor and a Chevrel compound, a negative electrode which comprises a p-type semiconductor and a Chevrel compound formed on one side of said substrate in side-by-side, spaced apart relation, a common metal ion conductive solid electrolyte layer provided in contact with both said positive and said negative electrode, and optically transparent current collectors for said positive and negative electrodes provided between said substrate and said positive and negative electrodes, respectively.
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44. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
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an optically transparent substrate; a positive electrode which includes a photo-electrode comprising a mixture of an n-type semiconductor capable of generating electron-hole pairs by irradiation of light and a Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte and a capacitive electrode provided in contact with said photo-electrode and comprising a mixture of a Chevrel compound having a three dimensional structure which allows metal atoms thereof to be deintercalated in the form of metal ions by reaction with said holes and said Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte; a negative electrode which includes another photo-electrode comprising a mixture of a p-type semiconductor and said Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte and a capacitive electrode provided in contact with said another photo-electrode and comprising a mixture of either said Chevrel compound used in said positive electrode and said Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte, or Cu, CuS2 and said Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte, said positive electrode and said negative electrode being spaced apart from each other and disposed on said substrate such that said photo-electrodes of said positive and negative electrodes are in contact with said substrate; a common layer of said Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte in contact with said capacitive electrodes of said positive and negative electrodes; and current collectors provided in contact with said respective photo-electrodes while permitting light to be passed into said respective photo-electrodes when the light is applied through said substrate.
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45. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
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an optionally transparent substrate; a positive electrode which includes a photo-electrode comprising an n-type semiconductor and a capacitive electrode provided in contact with said photo-electrode and comprising a compound of the formula, Cux Mo6 S8-y wherein x=2.3 when y=0, x=1.9 when y=0.1 or x=1.2 when 0.2≦
y≦
0.4;a negative electrode which includes another photo-electrode comprising a p-type semiconductor and a capacitive electrode provided in contact with said another photo-electrode and comprising a compound of the formula, Cux Mo6 S8-y wherein x=2.3 when y=0, x=1.9 when y=0.1 or x=1.1 when 0.2≦
y≦
0.4, or a mixture of Cu and Cu2 S, said positive electrode and said negative electrode being spaced apart from each other and disposed on said substrate such that said photo-electrodes of said positive and negative electrodes are in contact with said substrate;a common layer of a Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte in contact with said capacitive electrodes of said positive and negative electrodes; and current collectors provided in contact with said respective photo-electrodes while permitting light to be passed into said respective photo-electrodes when the light is applied through said substrate.
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46. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising;
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an optically transparent substrate; a positive electrode which includes a photo-electrode comprising an n-type semiconductor and a capacitive electrode provided in contact with said photo-electrode and comprising a compound of the formula, Cud Ti6 S2-e wherein d is from 0 to 0.22 and e is from 0 to 0.17; a negative electrode which includes another photo-electrode comprising a p-type semiconductor and a capacitive electrode provided in contact with said another photo-electrode and comprising a compound of the formula, Cux Mo6 S8-y wherein x=2.3 when y=0, x=1.9 when y=0.1 or x=1.2 when 0.2≦
y≦
0.4, or a mixture of Cu and Cu2 S, said positive electrode and said negative electrode being spaced apart from each other and disposed on said substrate such that said photo-electrodes of said positive and negative electrodes are in contact with said substrate;a common layer of a Cu+ ion conductive solid electrolyte in contact with said capacitive electrodes of said positive and negative electrodes; and current collectors provided in contact with said respective photo-electrodes while permitting light to be passed into said respective photo-electrodes when the light is applied through said substrate.
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47. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
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a positive electrode which includes a photo-electrode comprising an n-type semiconductor capable of generating electron-hole pairs when irradiated with light and a capacitive electrode comprising a Chevrel compound having a three-dimensional structure which allows metal atoms thereof to be deintercalated in the form of metal ions by reaction with said holes and contacting at least a part of said photo-electrode and having a current collector; a negative electrode which includes another photo-electrode comprising a p-type semiconductor and a capacitive electrode comprising a Chevrel compound capable of reversibly intercalating and deintercalating metal atoms therein, in contact with at least a part of said another photo-electrode and having a current collector, said negative electrode being spaced apart from said positive electrode; a common layer of a metal ion conductive solid electrolyte in contact with said capacitive electrodes; and conductive electrodes contacting at least a part of said respective photo-electrodes for electrical connection of said photo-electrodes. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. A photoelectrochemical cell which comprises:
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an optically transparent substrate; a first cell unit which is formed on one surface of said substrate and which includes an n-type photo-electrode comprising a mixture of an n-type semiconductor and a copper ion conductive solid electrolyte, a capacitive electrode formed on said n-type photo-electrode on one side thereof comprising a mixture of a compound of the formula, Cux Mo6 S8-y wherein 0<
x≦
4 and y is from 0.1 to 0.4 and said copper ion conductive solid electrolyte used in said n-type photo-electrode, a layer of said copper ion conductive solid electrolyte formed on another side of said capacitive electrode, a reversibly copper transferable electrode formed on said solid electrolyte layer and comprising a mixture of electrolytic copper powder, Cu2 S and said copper ion conductive solid electrolyte, a first current collector formed on said reversibly copper transferable electrode, and a second current collector having an opening receiving said n-type photo-electrode therein and provided in contact with said capacitive electrode;a second unit cell which is formed on said one surface of said substrate and which includes a p-type photo-electrode comprising a mixture of a p-type semiconductor and said copper ion conductive solid electrolyte, a capacitive electrode formed on said p-type photo-electrode on one side thereof and comprising a mixture of a compound of the formula, Cux Mo6 S8-y in which 0<
x≦
4 and y is from 0.1 to 0.4 and said copper ion conductive solid electrolyte, a layer of said copper ion conductive solid electrolyte formed on another side of said capacitive electrode, a reversibly copper transferable electrode formed on said solid electrolyte layer and comprising a mixture of electrolytic copper powder, Cu2 S and said copper ion conductive solid electrolyte, a third current collector formed on said reversibly copper transferable electrode, and a fourth current collector having an opening receiving said p-type photo-electrode therein and provided in contact with said capacitive electrode, said first and second cell units being separated for each other; anda conductive wire connecting said first and second cell units through said first and third current collectors. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification