Photoresponsive amorphous semiconductor materials, methods of making the same, and photoanodes made therewith
First Claim
1. A method of making a photoresponsive amorphous semiconductor material comprising the steps of:
- forming an amorphous semiconductor;
cathodically treating said amorphous semiconductor so that a compensating agent modifies the semiconductor to eliminate or compensate the localized states and enhance the photoresponse of the semiconductor.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A photoresponsive amorphous semiconductor material is modified by incorporating at least one compensating agent selected from a group consisting of hydrogen, lithium, fluorine, beryllium, aluminum, boron, magnesium, other Group I elements, and compounds of these elements. The semiconductor material is cathodically treated either simultaneously with or subsequent to this modification. The semiconductor material may be additionally modified by incorporating a second modifying agent selected from a group consisting of silicon, the transition elements, the lanthanides, and compounds of these elements. The semiconductor material also may be subjected to heat treatment in an inert atmosphere before the cathodic treatment.
A photoanode utilizing the above described semiconductor material further includes a substrate to support a film of said material. The photoanode may additionally include a second semiconductor film having a small band gap inserted between said substrate and said first semiconductor film. These photoanodes may be used in an electrochemical cell for the conversion of light into electrical energy or energy stored in a fuel.
42 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of making a photoresponsive amorphous semiconductor material comprising the steps of:
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forming an amorphous semiconductor; cathodically treating said amorphous semiconductor so that a compensating agent modifies the semiconductor to eliminate or compensate the localized states and enhance the photoresponse of the semiconductor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A photoanode having enhanced photoresponse for use in the conversion of light to electrical energy or fuel comprising:
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a substrate including a deposition surface; and an amorphous semiconductor film in electrical contact with said deposition surface, said semiconductor incorporating a compensating agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lithium, fluorine, beryllium, aluminum, boron, magnesium, other Group I elements, and compounds of these elements, said semiconductor film being cathodically treated to enhance its photoresponse. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A photoelectrochemical cell for the conversion of light into electrical energy or energy stored in a fuel comprising:
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a cell having an interior space therein, said space divided by a membrane positioned in said space to form an anode compartment and a counter electrode compartment within said cell, an electrolyte in said anode compartment and in said counter electrode compartment; a counter electrode positioned in said counter electrode compartment with at least a portion in contact with said electrolyte; a photoanode positioned in said anode compartment with at least a portion in contact with said electrolyte; said photoanode including a substrate having a deposition surface, and an amorphous semiconductor film in electrical contact with said deposition surface, said semiconductor film including a compensating agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, lithium, fluorine, beryllium, aluminum, boron, magnesium, other Group I elements, and compounds of these elements, said semiconductor film being cathodically treated to enhance its photoresponse; and means for allowing light to enter the cell and illuminate said photoelectrode wherein the light will be converted into energy usable as electricity or a fuel. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification