Organic conductive films for semiconductor electrodes
First Claim
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1. An electrode for use in photoelectrochemical cells to effect generating fuels and useful chemicals, said electrode comprising:
- (a) a semiconductor overcoated with a conductive film capable of transporting electrons and holes and comprising a charge conductive polymer for preventing photogenerated holes and electrons from substantially reacting with said electrode; and
(b) at least one redox enhancer for catalyzing certain chemical reactions required to generate said fuels and useful chemicals and for substantially preventing said photogenerated holes and electrons from reacting with said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being incorporated within or attached to the surface of said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being selected from a group consisting of charge-relaying agents.
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Abstract
According to the present invention, improved electrodes overcoated with conductive polymer films and preselected catalysts are provided. The electrodes typically comprise an inorganic semiconductor overcoated with a charge conductive polymer film comprising a charge conductive polymer in or on which is a catalyst or charge-relaying agent.
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20 Claims
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1. An electrode for use in photoelectrochemical cells to effect generating fuels and useful chemicals, said electrode comprising:
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(a) a semiconductor overcoated with a conductive film capable of transporting electrons and holes and comprising a charge conductive polymer for preventing photogenerated holes and electrons from substantially reacting with said electrode; and (b) at least one redox enhancer for catalyzing certain chemical reactions required to generate said fuels and useful chemicals and for substantially preventing said photogenerated holes and electrons from reacting with said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being incorporated within or attached to the surface of said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being selected from a group consisting of charge-relaying agents. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A photoelectrochemical cell for generating fuels and useful chemicals, said photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
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(a) at least one photoelectrode and an electrolyte containing at least two redox couples wherein said photoelectrode comprises a semiconductor overcoated with a conductive film capable of transporting electrons and holes and comprising a charge conductive polymer for substantially preventing photogenerated holes and electrons from reacting with said photoelectrode; and (b) a redox enhancer for catalyzing certain chemical reactions required to generate said fuels and useful chemicals and for substantially preventing said photogenerated holes and electrodes from reacting with said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being incorporated within or attached to the surface of said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being selected from a group consisting of catalysts for said redox couples and charge-relaying agents. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification