US4389290A
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Use of electrocatalytic anodes in photolysis
Assignee: RESEARCH Corp A NOT FOR PROFIT CORP OF NEW YORK
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Filing: 1981-07-02
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Granted: 1983-06-21
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Expires: 2001-07-02
Abstract
Abstract A photolytic system comprised of a darkened halfcell and an illuminated halfcell in which oxidation and reduction reactions are made to occur. These halfcells are joined by an electrically conductive element and an ion conducting junction for electron transfer and ion transport. The illuminated halfcell is equipped with a cathode and the darkened halfcell contains an improved anode which exhibits a desirably low overvoltage with respect to the substrate which is sought to be oxidized. Oxidation products are formed at the anode and reduction products are formed at the cathode.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Gratzel
- 👤 Michael Neumann-Spallart
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:45
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/50; C25B1/55; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E60/00; Y02E60/30; Y02E60/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A photolytic sysem for the production of oxidation and reduction products which comprises: (1) a darkenable halfcell containing an anode and an oxidizable substrate; (2) an illuminatable halfcell containing a composition which under the action of visible light exhibits an enhanced ability to donate electrons, a cathode, an electron relay which accepts electrons, a catalyst for mediating an oxidation-reduction process and an oxidizable or reducible substrate; and (3) means for transporting electrons and ions between said illuminatable halfcell and darkenable halfcell; wherein the anode is an anodic catalyst and is selected from the group consising of: (a) ruthenium oxide, (b) iridium oxide, (c) ruthenate salts, (d) indate salts, and mixtures of two or more thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A photolytic sysem for the production of oxidation and reduction products which comprises: (1) a darkenable halfcell containing an anode and an oxidizable substrate; (2) an illuminatable halfcell containing a composition which under the action of visible light exhibits an enhanced ability to donate electrons, a cathode, an electron relay which accepts electrons, a catalyst for mediating an oxidation-reduction process and an oxidizable or reducible substrate; and (3) means for transporting electrons and ions between said illuminatable halfcell and darkenable halfcell; wherein the anode is an anodic catalyst and is selected from the group consising of: (a) ruthenium oxide, (b) iridium oxide, (c) ruthenate salts, (d) indate salts, and mixtures of two or more thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the anodic catalyst includes one or more of transition metal oxides, rare earth metal oxides, aluminum oxides, silicon oxide and thorium oxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the electron donating composition in the illuminatable halfcell is a photosensitizer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein the electron donating composition in the illuminatable halfcell is a semiconductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system according to claim 4 wherein the semiconductor is the cathode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system according to claim 2 wherein the transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of oxides of tungsten, zirconium, tantalum, titanium, chromium, vanadium, iron, nickel, cobalt and manganese.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system according to claim 6 wherein the transition metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of oxides of tantalum, zirconium and titanium.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said anode comprises a conductive support onto which said anodic catalyst is coated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein said conductive support is titanium or platinum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said anodic catalyst is ruthenium oxide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system according to claim 8 wherein said anode comprises ruthenium oxide coated onto titanium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system according to claim 2 in which the ruthenium oxide, iridium oxide, ruthenate salts, iridate salts, or mixtures thereof, are present in an amount of no less than about 50% by weight of said anodic catalyst.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A photolytic method for the endoergic production of oxidation and reduction products which comprises, illuminating a halfcell containing a composition which under the action of visible light exhibits an enhanced ability to donate electrons, a cathode, an electron relay which accepts electrons, a catalyst for mediating an oxidation, reduction process and an oxidizable or reducible substance; simultaneously transporting electrons and ions between said illuminated halfcell and a darkened halfcell which contains an oxidizable or reducible substance and an anode comprised of an anodic catalyst positioned in the darkened halfcell to mediate oxidation-reduction, said anodic catalyst being selected from the group consisting of: (a) ruthenium oxide, (b) iridium oxide, (c) ruthenate salts, (d) iridate salts and mixtures thereof; and recovering the oxidation and reduction products.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
124 words
A photolytic method for the endoergic production of oxidation and reduction products which comprises, illuminating a halfcell containing a composition which under the action of visible light exhibits an enhanced ability to donate electrons, a cathode, an electron relay which accepts electrons, a catalyst for mediating an oxidation, reduction process and an oxidizable or reducible substance; simultaneously transporting electrons and ions between said illuminated halfcell and a darkened halfcell which contains an oxidizable or reducible substance and an anode comprised of an anodic catalyst positioned in the darkened halfcell to mediate oxidation-reduction, said anodic catalyst being selected from the group consisting of: (a) ruthenium oxide, (b) iridium oxide, (c) ruthenate salts, (d) iridate salts and mixtures thereof; and recovering the oxidation and reduction products.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the anodic catalyst includes one or more transition metal oxides, rare earth metal oxides, aluminum oxides, silicon oxide or thorium oxide.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the electron-donating composition in the illuminated halfcell is a photosensitizer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the electron-donating composition in the illuminated halfcell is a semiconductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein the semiconductor is the cathode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein the transition metal oxide or rare earth metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of oxides of tungsten, zirconium, tantalum, titanium, chromium, vanadium, iron, nickel, cobalt and manganese.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 18 wherein the transition metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of oxides of tantalum, zirconium and titanium.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein said anode comprises a conductive support onto which said anodic catalyst is coated.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein said conductive support is titanium or platinum.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein said anodic catalyst is ruthenium oxide.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method according to claim 20 wherein said anode comprises ruthenium oxide coated onto titanium.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method according to claim 14 in which the ruthenium oxide, iridium oxide, ruthenate salts, iridate salts or mixtures thereof are present in an amount of no less than about 50% by weight of said anodic catalyst.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein oxidation occurs in the darkened halfcell and the reduction occurs in the illuminated halfcell.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the substance is water and oxygen is produced in the darkened halfcell and hydrogen is produced in the illuminated halfcell.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the substrate is an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride and hydrogen is produced in the illuminated halfcell and chlorine is produced in the darkened halfcell.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 13 wherein the catalyst which is employed in the illuminated halfcell is stabilized finely dispersed platinum.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method according to claim 15 in which said photosensitizer is a ruthenium tris bipyridyl cation or a metallo porphyrin.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 29 in which the said photosensitizer is ruthenium tris bipyridyl halide, zinc tetramethylpyridinium porphyrin cation or a zinc tetra-N-actadecylpyridinium porphyrin complex.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method according to claim 13 in which the electron relay is methylviologen or betaine viologen.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method according to claim 16 wherein said semiconductor is p-type gallium phosphide, gallium arsenide or silicon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4011149A
Cited
US4090933A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-06-20 | 1986-12-20 | 1987-06-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-20 | 1990-12-20 | 1991-06-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-20 | 1994-12-20 | 1995-06-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |