US4459343A
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Nonaqueous electrolyte photoelectrochemical cell
Assignee: SERA SOLAR Corp A CORP OF CA
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Filing: 1982-12-20
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Granted: 1984-07-10
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Expires: 2002-12-20
Abstract
Abstract Solid-liquid interface photoelectrochemical cells are provided wherein the liquid phase comprises a nonaqueous solvent, an electrolyte dissolved therein forming an ionically conductive solution and a redox couple suitable to accept and donate electrons from and to the electrodes. The redox couple is present in an amount sufficient to sustain a predetermined current and the concentrations of the electrolyte and redox couple in the solution are sufficient to provide no greater than a selected small voltage drop relative to the output voltage of the cell. The efficiency of conversion of light to electrical energy of such photoelectrochemical cells are 10% and greater.
Inventors
- 👤 James F. Gibbons
- 👤 George W. Cogan
- 👤 Christian M. Gronet
- 👤 Nathan S. Lewis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M14/00; H01M14/005; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
128 words
A photoelectrochemical cell having a solar energy conversion efficiency in the range of about 10% and above, comprising a semiconductor photoactive electrode, a nonaqueous solvent and an electrolyte dissolved therein forming an ionically conductive solution, a counterelectrode providing an electrical connection from said solution to said photoactive electrode; and a redox couple dissolved in said solvent suitable to accept and donate electrons from and to said electrode upon said cell by an external source of light, said redox couple present in an amount sufficient to sustain a predetermined current; wherein the concentration of said electrolyte and said redox couple in said solution are selected to provide a voltage drop substantially less than the output voltage of said cell during conversion in said cell of said light to electricity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
128 words
A photoelectrochemical cell having a solar energy conversion efficiency in the range of about 10% and above, comprising a semiconductor photoactive electrode, a nonaqueous solvent and an electrolyte dissolved therein forming an ionically conductive solution, a counterelectrode providing an electrical connection from said solution to said photoactive electrode; and a redox couple dissolved in said solvent suitable to accept and donate electrons from and to said electrode upon said cell by an external source of light, said redox couple present in an amount sufficient to sustain a predetermined current; wherein the concentration of said electrolyte and said redox couple in said solution are selected to provide a voltage drop substantially less than the output voltage of said cell during conversion in said cell of said light to electricity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said solvent further comprises an agent which induces formation of a predetermined amount of an insulating compound at the interface of said semiconductor electrode and said solution.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cell according to claim 2 wherein said agent is water and said semiconductor comprises silicon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said semiconductor is an n-type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said semiconductor is a p-type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
11 words
A cell according to claim 5 wherein said semiconductor comprises p-silicon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cell according to claims 4 or 5 wherein said solution is a liquid film of a thickness less than 100 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A cell according to claims 4 or 5 wherein the band gap of said semiconductor is in the range of 1.0 to 2.3 eV.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cell according to claim 8 wherein said semiconductor is selected from the group consisting of silicon, gallium arsenide, gallium arsenide phosphide, cadmium telluride, cadmium selenide and indium phosphide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said semiconductor is selected from silicon, GaAs and GaAs x P 1-x , wherein x is between 0.2 and 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said semiconductor comprises cadmium telluride.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cell according to claims 4 or 5 wherein said semiconductor is amorphous.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
26 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said nonaqueous solvent is characterized by a dielectric constant greater than 20 and a viscosity less than 2 centipoise.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cell according to claim 13 wherein said solvent is selected from an alkanol of 1 to 6 carbon atoms or a nitrile of 2 to 6 carbon atoms.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell according to claim 14 wherein said solvent is selected from methanol or acetonitrile.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A cell according to claim 13 wherein said electrolyte is selected from lithium perchlorate and tetra alkyl ammonium borontetrafluoride.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein said redox couple is selected from ferrocene-ferrocenium salts and derivatives thereof.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cell according to claims 5, 11, 15 or 17 wherein said electrolyte is lithium perchlorate, said solvent is methanol, said redox couple is (1-hydroxyethyl)ferrocene/(1-hydroxyethyl)ferrocenium salt, and said semiconductor is n-type silicon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
45 words
A cell according to claims 5, 16, 15 or 17 wherein said electrolyte is tetraethyl ammonium borotetrafluoride, said solvent is acetonitrile, said redox couple is ferrocene/ferrocenium salt and said semiconductor is an epitaxial layer of GaAs 0 .72 P 0 .28 on a GaAs substrate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cell according to claims 5, 16, 15 or 17 wherein said solvent is acetonitrile, said redox couple is ferrocene/ferrocenium salt, said electrolyte is tetraethyl ammonium borontetrafluoride and said semiconductor n-GaAs.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A cell according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined current is the solar photon flux with energies greater than the bandgap of the photoactive electrode multiplied by the charge of an electron.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-07-10 | 1988-01-09 | 1988-07-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-10 | 1992-01-09 | 1992-07-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-10 | 1996-01-09 | 1996-07-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |