US4144147A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photolysis of water using rhodate semiconductive electrodes
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1977-09-26
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Granted: 1979-03-13
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Expires: 1997-09-26
Abstract
Abstract Decomposition of water into hydrogen and oxygen by sunlight is accomplished by using a rhodate p-type semiconductor as cathode and an n-type semiconductor or a metal as anode. A cell exposed to sunlight using a rhodate cathode and an n-type TiO 2 anode decomposes the contained water and also generates electric power.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard S. Jarrett
- 👤 Harold H. C. Kung
- 👤 Arthur W. Sleight
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:31
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M14/00; H01M14/005; C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/50; C25B1/55; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/20; H01G9/2027; H01G9/2031; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/50; Y02E10/542; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10; Y02P20/133; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
24 words
In a photoelectrochemical cell comprising an anode and a p-type semiconducting cathode the improvement wherein the said cathode comprises an oxide of trivalent rhodium.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a photoelectrochemical cell comprising an anode and a p-type semiconducting cathode the improvement wherein the said cathode comprises an oxide of trivalent rhodium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
95 words
A sunlight-permeable device for decomposing water into hydrogen and oxygen when filled with a sunlight-permeable aqueous electrolyte and exposed to sunlight comprising a container permeable to sunlight having within it an anode and a cathode so spaced that entering sunlight will impinge on both simultaneously, the anode being a metallic conductor or an n-type semiconductor, the cathode being a p-type semiconducting oxide of trivalent rhodium having a resistivity less than 10 5 ohm-cm, and an external electrical circuit connecting the anode and cathode, the said circuit containing an applied voltage of zero to 1.23 volts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
95 words
A sunlight-permeable device for decomposing water into hydrogen and oxygen when filled with a sunlight-permeable aqueous electrolyte and exposed to sunlight comprising a container permeable to sunlight having within it an anode and a cathode so spaced that entering sunlight will impinge on both simultaneously, the anode being a metallic conductor or an n-type semiconductor, the cathode being a p-type semiconducting oxide of trivalent rhodium having a resistivity less than 10 5 ohm-cm, and an external electrical circuit connecting the anode and cathode, the said circuit containing an applied voltage of zero to 1.23 volts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein the cathode is a p-type semiconducting rhodate of the formula Rh 2 O 3 or ARhO 3 wherein A is a trivalent rare earth.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the said rhodate is p-Rh 2 O 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the said rhodate is ARhO 3 , where A is a rare earth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the said rhodate is p-LuRhO 3 .
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the said rhodate is p-LaRhO 3 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as in claim 3 wherein the said rhodate is p-DyRhO 3 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein the anode is an n-type semiconductor whose anodic photopotential is more cathodic than -0.3 volt vs S.C.E.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as in claim 9 wherein the anode is n-TiO 2 .
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein the anode is a metallic conductor.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device as in claim 2 wherein the cathode is a p-type semiconducting rhodate of the formula Rh 2 O 3 or ARhO 3 where A is a rare earth and the anode is an n-type semiconductor whose anodic photopotential is more cathodic than -0.3 volt vs S.C.E.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 12 wherein the cathode is p-LuRhO 3 and the anode is n-TiO 2 .
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 12 wherein the cathode is p-LaRhO 3 and the anode is n-TiO 2 .
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 12 wherein the cathode is p-DyRhO 3 and the anode is n-TiO 2 .
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 12 wherein the cathode is p-Rh 2 O 3 and the anode is n-TiO 2 .
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the process of photoelectrochemically hydrolyzing water wherein an anode and p-type semiconducting cathode are used the improvement wherein the said cathode comprises an oxide of trivalent rhodium.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
In the process of photoelectrochemically hydrolyzing water wherein an anode and p-type semiconducting cathode are used the improvement wherein the said cathode comprises an oxide of trivalent rhodium.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the said cathode comprises p-LuRhO 3 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the said cathode is p-LaRhO 3 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the said cathode is p-DyRhO 3 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the said cathode is p-Rh 2 O 3 .
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the anode is n-TiO 2 and the cathode is p-LuRhO 3 .
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the anode is n-TiO 2 and the cathode is p-LaRhO 3 .
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the anode is n-TiO 2 and the cathode is p-DyRhO 3 .
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
In the process of claim 17 the improvement wherein the anode is n-TiO 2 and the cathode is p-Rh 2 O 3 .
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-03-12 | 1982-09-11 | 1983-03-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-03-12 | 1986-09-11 | 1987-03-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-03-12 | 1990-09-11 | 1991-03-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |