Patent US4461691A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4461691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Organic conductive films for semiconductor electrodes
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1983-02-10
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Granted: 1984-07-24
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Expires: 2003-02-10
Abstract
Abstract According to the present invention, improved electrodes overcoated with conductive polymer films and preselected catalysts are provided. The electrodes typically comprise an inorganic semiconductor overcoated with a charge conductive polymer film comprising a charge conductive polymer in or on which is a catalyst or charge-relaying agent.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur J. Frank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:19
CPC Classifications
C; C25; C25B; C25B1/00; C25B1/50; C25B1/55; H; H01; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/20; H01M; H01M14/00; H01M14/005; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S204/00; Y10S204/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
An electrode for use in photoelectrochemical cells to effect generating fuels and useful chemicals, said electrode comprising: (a) a semiconductor overcoated with a conductive film capable of transporting electrons and holes and comprising a charge conductive polymer for preventing photogenerated holes and electrons from substantially reacting with said electrode; and (b) at least one redox enhancer for catalyzing certain chemical reactions required to generate said fuels and useful chemicals and for substantially preventing said photogenerated holes and electrons from reacting with said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being incorporated within or attached to the surface of said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being selected from a group consisting of charge-relaying agents.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
An electrode for use in photoelectrochemical cells to effect generating fuels and useful chemicals, said electrode comprising: (a) a semiconductor overcoated with a conductive film capable of transporting electrons and holes and comprising a charge conductive polymer for preventing photogenerated holes and electrons from substantially reacting with said electrode; and (b) at least one redox enhancer for catalyzing certain chemical reactions required to generate said fuels and useful chemicals and for substantially preventing said photogenerated holes and electrons from reacting with said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being incorporated within or attached to the surface of said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being selected from a group consisting of charge-relaying agents.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said redox enhancer is a catalyst.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said film further comprises at least one catalyst and at least one charge relaying agent.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said semiconductor is n-type.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
11 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said semiconductor is p-type.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said conductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of heterocyclic aromatic polymers with extended pi-bonding, phthalocyaninatometal polymers with organic bridging ligands containing delocalized pi-electrons, bridged stacked metallophthalocyanines where pi-orbital overlap occurs at the phthalocyanine rings, and conductive polymers derived from the addition of metals or graphite particles to organic polymers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said redox enhancer is on the surface of said film.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An electrode according to claim 1 wherein said redox enhancer is intermixed with said polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
128 words
A photoelectrochemical cell for generating fuels and useful chemicals, said photoelectrochemical cell comprising: (a) at least one photoelectrode and an electrolyte containing at least two redox couples wherein said photoelectrode comprises a semiconductor overcoated with a conductive film capable of transporting electrons and holes and comprising a charge conductive polymer for substantially preventing photogenerated holes and electrons from reacting with said photoelectrode; and (b) a redox enhancer for catalyzing certain chemical reactions required to generate said fuels and useful chemicals and for substantially preventing said photogenerated holes and electrodes from reacting with said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being incorporated within or attached to the surface of said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being selected from a group consisting of catalysts for said redox couples and charge-relaying agents.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
128 words
A photoelectrochemical cell for generating fuels and useful chemicals, said photoelectrochemical cell comprising: (a) at least one photoelectrode and an electrolyte containing at least two redox couples wherein said photoelectrode comprises a semiconductor overcoated with a conductive film capable of transporting electrons and holes and comprising a charge conductive polymer for substantially preventing photogenerated holes and electrons from reacting with said photoelectrode; and (b) a redox enhancer for catalyzing certain chemical reactions required to generate said fuels and useful chemicals and for substantially preventing said photogenerated holes and electrodes from reacting with said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being incorporated within or attached to the surface of said conductive polymer, said redox enhancer being selected from a group consisting of catalysts for said redox couples and charge-relaying agents.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said redox enhancer is intermixed with said polymer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said redox enhancer is on the surface of said film.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
98 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said redox couples are selected from the group consisting of (a) H + /H 2 and O 2 /H 2 O, (b) CO 2 /HCOOH and O 2 /H 2 O, (c) CO 2 /HCHO and O 2 /H 2 O, (d) CO 2 /CH 3 OH and O 2 /H 2 O, (e) CO 2 /CH 4 and O 2 /H 2 O, (f) N 2 /NH 3 and O 2 /H 2 O, and (g) CO 2 /C 6 H 12 O 6 and O 2 /H 2 O.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said semiconductor has a bandgap between 0.5 and 3.0 eV.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said one photoelectrode is n-type.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said photoelectrode material is selected from the group consisting of amorphous material, thin film material, single crystal material, and multiple layered material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cell according to claim 14 further comprising a second electrode which is metal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cell according to claim 14 further comprising a second electrode which is a p-type photoelectrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
12 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said one photoelectrode is p-type.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cell according to claim 18 further comprising a second electrode which is metal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
A cell according to claim 9 wherein said one photoelectrode comprises a particulate semiconductor.
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) | 1987-07-24 | 1988-01-23 | 1988-07-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-07-24 | 1992-01-23 | 1992-07-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-07-24 | 1996-01-23 | 1996-07-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |