Photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructures
First Claim
1. A photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructure (PAH), comprising:
- a continuous sheet-like material forming or supporting a protective structure having a plurality of cavities defining electrically insulating partitions;
a plurality of independent light absorbing units, each including one or more types or regions of n-type or p-type semiconductor material, each independent light absorbing unit being disposed entirely within a cavity of the protective structure such that the protective structure partially covers and protects the semiconductor material of each independent light absorbing unit from corrosion, and such that each independent light absorbing unit is separated from and independent of other light absorbing units of the PAH;
one or more cathodes coupled to the independent light absorbing units;
one or more anodes coupled to the independent light absorbing units and being isolated from the one or more cathodes so that each independent light absorbing unit is autonomous from other light absorbing units; and
a hydrogen permeable layer covering the one or more cathodes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-step process, consisting of a photoelectrosynthetic process combined with a thermochemical process, is configured to produce a reduction product (e.g., methane gas, methanol, or carbon monoxide) from carbon dioxide and liquid waste streams. In a first step, photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructures (PAHs) and sunlight are used to drive oxidation/reduction reactions in which one primary product is hydrogen gas. In the second step, hydrogen generated in the first step is thermally catalytically reacted with carbon dioxide to form a reduction product from carbon dioxide (e.g., CO, formaldehyde, methane, or methanol). Synthesis gas (CO and H2) can be further reacted to form alkanes. The methods and systems may employ PAHs known in the art or improved PAHs having lower costs, improved stability, solar energy conversion efficiency, and/or other desired attributes as disclosed herein.
112 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructure (PAH), comprising:
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a continuous sheet-like material forming or supporting a protective structure having a plurality of cavities defining electrically insulating partitions; a plurality of independent light absorbing units, each including one or more types or regions of n-type or p-type semiconductor material, each independent light absorbing unit being disposed entirely within a cavity of the protective structure such that the protective structure partially covers and protects the semiconductor material of each independent light absorbing unit from corrosion, and such that each independent light absorbing unit is separated from and independent of other light absorbing units of the PAH; one or more cathodes coupled to the independent light absorbing units; one or more anodes coupled to the independent light absorbing units and being isolated from the one or more cathodes so that each independent light absorbing unit is autonomous from other light absorbing units; and a hydrogen permeable layer covering the one or more cathodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructure (PAH), comprising:
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a porous metal oxide protective structure having a honeycomb structure with a plurality of channels extending therethrough, each channel having a first opening and a second opening; one or more semiconductor materials disposed in the channels and comprising independent light absorbing units, each independent light absorbing unit being disposed within a respective channel of the protective structure and not extending beyond a respective first opening or second opening of the channel such that a portion of the semiconductor material of each unit is protected from corrosion by the protective structure; one or more cathodes, each disposed at a first opening and each coupled to a region of semiconductor material; one or more anodes, each disposed at a second opening and each coupled to a region of semiconductor material, wherein the one or more anodes are isolated from the one or more cathodes so that each independent light absorbing unit is autonomous from other light absorbing units; and a hydrogen permeable layer covering the one or more cathodes.
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20. A photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructure (PAH), comprising:
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a porous metal oxide protective structure having a honeycomb structure with a plurality of channels extending therethrough, each channel having a first opening and a second opening; one or more semiconductor materials disposed in the channels and comprising independent light absorbing units, each independent light absorbing unit being disposed within a respective channel of the protective structure and not extending beyond a respective first opening or second opening of the channel such that a portion of the semiconductor material of each unit is protected from corrosion by the protective structure; a plurality of cathodes, each disposed at a respective first opening and coupled to a region of semiconductor material of a respective independent light absorbing unit so as to be electrically isolated from and independent of other cathodes of the PAH; a plurality of anodes, each disposed at a respective second opening and coupled to a region of semiconductor material of a respective independent light absorbing unit so as to be electrically isolated from and independent of other anodes of the PAH and so that each independent light absorbing unit is autonomous from other light absorbing units; and a hydrogen permeable layer comprising chromium oxide covering the plurality of cathodes, wherein each of the cathodes and/or each of the anodes is disposed at least partially within a respective cavity of the protective structure.
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Specification