US4379740A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photoassisted generation of hydrogen from water
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
•
Filing: 1982-06-21
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Granted: 1983-04-12
•
Expires: 2002-06-21
Abstract
Abstract Hydrogen is generated from water containing acid by passing electric current through it, using as the cathode a semiconductor exposed to light and having a transition metal metallocenophane compound attached to the surface of the cathode by means of a polymer.
Inventors
- 👤 Adel I. Nazzal
- 👤 Ulrich T. Mueller-Westerhoff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 10:35
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/50; C25B1/55; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
51 words
A process for generating hydrogen from water containing an acid by passing an electric current through the water using a cathode which is a semiconductor exposed to light, said process characterized in that a transition metal metallocenophane compound is attached to the surface of the cathode by means of a polymer.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A process for generating hydrogen from water containing an acid by passing an electric current through the water using a cathode which is a semiconductor exposed to light, said process characterized in that a transition metal metallocenophane compound is attached to the surface of the cathode by means of a polymer.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light is sunlight.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transition metal is iron, cobalt or ruthenium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the transition metal is iron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the metallocenophane compound is chemically bonded to a polymer which is on the surface of the cathode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the metallocenophane compound is dispersed in a polymer which is on the surface of the cathode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cathode is p-type silicon.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid is boron trifluoride hydrate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 where the acid is perchloric acid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process for generating hydrogen from water containing boron trifluoride hydrate by passing an electric current through the water with a p-type silicon semiconductor cathode which is exposed to sunlight and which is coated with a polymer chemically bonded to [1.1]ferrocenophane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
A process for generating hydrogen from water containing boron trifluoride hydrate by passing an electric current through the water with a p-type silicon semiconductor cathode which is exposed to sunlight and which is coated with a polymer chemically bonded to [1.1]ferrocenophane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3992271A
Cited
US4061555A
Cited
US4144147A
Cited
US4305794A
Cited
US4325793A
Cited
US4345982A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-04-11 | 1986-10-11 | 1987-04-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-04-11 | 1990-10-11 | 1991-04-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-04-11 | 1994-10-11 | 1995-04-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |