Patent US549053A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4167461A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4167461A
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Photoenhanced reduction process
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1978-07-10
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Granted: 1979-09-11
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Expires: 1998-07-10
Abstract
Abstract A system for the photoenhanced reduction of nitrogen. A p-type semiconductor cathode with a band gap between about 0.8 and 3.0 eV is irradiated with light falling within such energy range. The cathode is in contact with an electrolyte and capable of injecting photogenerated electrons into the electrolyte. An anode provides for removal of the resulting holes from the cathode. Cathode and anode are short circuited. For nitrogen molecule reduction, the electrolyte solution contains a chemical species capable in reduced form of chemically binding molecular nitrogen and of facilitating a series of reduction steps on the nitrogen. Specifically, such a chemical species is titanium isopropoxide.
Inventors
- 👤 C. R. Dickson
- 👤 A. J. Nozik
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 19:33
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/50; C25B1/55; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/10; Y02P20/133; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
In a process for the reduction of nitrogen molecules bound to complexes and capable of being reduced, the improvement comprising: providing a source of electrons comprising a p-type semiconductor cathode having a band gap between about 0.8 and 3 eV in contact with an electrolyte solution containing nitrogen molecules bound to complexes and capable of being reduced; irradiating the cathode with light having photons of an energy of between about 0.8 and 3 eV; injecting electrons generated by the incident light on the cathode surface into the electrolyte solution in contact with the cathode surface for reducing the nitrogen molecules bound to complexes and capable of being reduced; providing protons to the reduced nitrogen complexes; and providing an anode in contact with said electrolyte solution and electrically connected to said cathode; and eliminating electronic holes generated in the cathode and traveling to the anode via said electrical connection with electrons generated by an oxidation reaction at the anode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a process for the reduction of nitrogen molecules bound to complexes and capable of being reduced, the improvement comprising: providing a source of electrons comprising a p-type semiconductor cathode having a band gap between about 0.8 and 3 eV in contact with an electrolyte solution containing nitrogen molecules bound to complexes and capable of being reduced; irradiating the cathode with light having photons of an energy of between about 0.8 and 3 eV; injecting electrons generated by the incident light on the cathode surface into the electrolyte solution in contact with the cathode surface for reducing the nitrogen molecules bound to complexes and capable of being reduced; providing protons to the reduced nitrogen complexes; and providing an anode in contact with said electrolyte solution and electrically connected to said cathode; and eliminating electronic holes generated in the cathode and traveling to the anode via said electrical connection with electrons generated by an oxidation reaction at the anode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The process of claim 1 in which the oxidation reaction uses the anode material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 2 in which the anode material is aluminum metal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The process of claim 1 in which the oxidation reaction at the anode is oxidation of hydrogen gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
The process of claim 4 wherein a platinum anode is employed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The process of claim 1 in which the electrolyte solution consists of a solution of aluminum chloride and titanium tetraisopropoxide in 1,2 dimethoxyethane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 1 in which the incident light source is a solar energy source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1 in which water is provided as a proton source for formation of protonated nitrogen derivatives.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 in which the semiconductor cathode is p-GaP.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The process of claim 1 wherein molecular nitrogen is bubbled through the electrolyte solution near the cathode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a protonated nitrogen dervative is formed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The process of claim 11 wherein the protonated nitrogen derivative is ammonia, hydrazine, or hydrazoic acid.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-09-10 | 1983-03-12 | 1983-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-10 | 1987-03-12 | 1987-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-10 | 1991-03-12 | 1991-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |