Patent US4471036A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4471036A
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Electrochemical photovoltaic cells and electrodes
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1983-06-29
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Granted: 1984-09-11
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Expires: 2003-06-29
Abstract
Abstract Improved electrochemical photovoltaic cells and electrodes for use therein, particularly electrodes employing amorphous silicon or polyacetylene coating are produced by a process which includes filling pinholes or porous openings in the coatings by electrochemical oxidation of selected monomers to deposit insulating polymer in the openings.
Inventors
- 👤 Terje A. Skotheim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:21
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/20; H01M; H01M14/00; H01M14/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
66 words
An electrode comprising a conductive substrate and a coating thereon having pinholes through it, said coating being a semiconductor when exposed to light and an insulator in the dark, said coating further being passivated by an insulating polymer deposited in said pinholes immediately adjacent to the substrate, to a thickness in the range of about 100 Angstroms to 1.0 micrometer by electro-chemical oxidation in the dark.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
66 words
An electrode comprising a conductive substrate and a coating thereon having pinholes through it, said coating being a semiconductor when exposed to light and an insulator in the dark, said coating further being passivated by an insulating polymer deposited in said pinholes immediately adjacent to the substrate, to a thickness in the range of about 100 Angstroms to 1.0 micrometer by electro-chemical oxidation in the dark.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein the coating comprises amorphous silicon or polyacetylene.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
An electrode as in claim 1 where the insulating polymer is formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of electrochemically oxidizable phenols and aromatic amines.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrode as in claim 3 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable phenol is 2,6-xylenol; 3,5-xylenol; o-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; o-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid; o-allylphenol; tyramine; or N(o-hydroxybenzyl) anidine.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrode as in claim 3 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable amine is p-toluidine; p-anisidine; p-aminobenzoic acid; 2-aminobenzotrifluoride; 3-aminobenzotrifluoride; p-phenylenediamine; or o-phenylenediamine.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An electrode as in claim 1 wherein the coating comprises amorphous silicon or polyacetylene and the insulating polymer is formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of electrochemically oxidizable phenols and aromatic amines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electrode as in claim 6 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable phenol is 2,6-xylenol; 3,5-xylenol; o-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; o-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid; o-allylphenol; tyramine; or N(o-hydroxybenzyl) aniline.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electrode as in claim 6 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable amine is p-toluidine; p-anisidine; p-aminobenzoic acid; 2-aminobenzotrifluoride; 3-aminobenzotrifluoride; p-phenylenediamine; or o-phenylenediamine.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrochemical photovoltaic cell including an electrode comprising a conductive substrate and a coating thereon having pinholes through it, said coating being a semiconductor when exposed to light and an insulator in the dark, said coating further being passivated by an insulating polymer deposited in said pinholes by electrochemical oxidation in the dark, and a transparent counterelectrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
An electrochemical photovoltaic cell including an electrode comprising a conductive substrate and a coating thereon having pinholes through it, said coating being a semiconductor when exposed to light and an insulator in the dark, said coating further being passivated by an insulating polymer deposited in said pinholes by electrochemical oxidation in the dark, and a transparent counterelectrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 9 wherein the coating on the electrode comprises amorphous silicon or polyacetylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 9 wherein the insulating polymer is formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of electrochemically oxidizable phenols and aromatic amines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 11 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable phenol is 2,6-xylenol; 3,5-xylenol; o-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; o-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid; o-allylphenol; tyramine; or N(o-hydroxybenzyl aniline.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A photovoltaic cell as in claim 11 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable amine is p-toluidine; p-anisidine; p-aminobenzoic acid; 2-aminobenzotrifluoride; 3-aminobenzotrifluoride; p-phenylenediamine; or o-phenylenediamine.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of passivating an electrode that comprises a conductive substrate with a coating thereon having pinholes through it, said coating being a semiconductor when exposed to light and an insulator in the dark, which method comprises providing an electrochemical cell including said electrode and an electrolyte containing a monomer which, when subjected to electrochemical oxidation in the dark, will form an insulating polymer, and subjecting said monomer to electrochemical oxidation in the dark, thereby to form said insulating polymer to a thickness in the range of about 100 Angstroms to 1.0 micrometer in said pinholes immediately adjacent to said substrate.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of passivating an electrode that comprises a conductive substrate with a coating thereon having pinholes through it, said coating being a semiconductor when exposed to light and an insulator in the dark, which method comprises providing an electrochemical cell including said electrode and an electrolyte containing a monomer which, when subjected to electrochemical oxidation in the dark, will form an insulating polymer, and subjecting said monomer to electrochemical oxidation in the dark, thereby to form said insulating polymer to a thickness in the range of about 100 Angstroms to 1.0 micrometer in said pinholes immediately adjacent to said substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as in claim 14 wherein the coating comprises amorphous silicon or polyacetylene.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 14 wherein the insulating polymer is formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of electrochemically oxidizable phenols and aromatic amines.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable phenol is 2,6-xylenol; 3,5-xylenol; o-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; m-hydroxybenzyl alcohol; o-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid; o-allylphenol; tyramine; or N(o-hydroxybenzyl) anidine.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 16 wherein the electrochemically oxidizable amine is p-toluidine; p-anisidine; p-aminobenzoic acid; 2-aminobenzotrifluoride; 3-aminobenzotrifluoride; p-phenylenediamine; or o-phenylenediamine.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-09-11 | 1988-03-12 | 1988-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-09-11 | 1992-03-12 | 1992-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-09-11 | 1996-03-12 | 1996-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |