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US4637969A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Photoelectro-chemical cell for conversion of solar energy to electricity and method of its manufacture

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1982-04-23
•
Granted: 1987-01-20
•
Expires: 2002-04-23
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Abstract

Abstract A double photoelectrochemical cell for converting solar energy directly to electricity. The device in one embodiment has two semiconductors which are separated from each other by a polymer electrolyte. The two semiconductors have a different band gap; for example, one is n-type CdS and the other is p-type CdTe. The polymer electrolyte, for example, is a thin film polyethylene oxide acting as a polymer matrix containing a polysulfide redox couple, for example, Na 2 S 4 . The polymer electrolyte is transparent, insulating and capable of transporting ions. At least one of the semiconductors is semi-transparent. The short wavelengths of light are absorbed by the semi-transparent wide band gap semiconductor, and the long wavelengths pass therethrough, and through the polymer film electrolyte, and are absorbed by the narrow band gap semiconductor. The output of the cell is double; one from each semiconductor, i.e. they are series-connected. Output voltage, for example, is about 0.625 volts. The theoretical efficiencies in the example are about 35%, compared with about 25% for a standard photovoltaic cell, having a single junction. Also included is a method of manufacturing such a cell.

Inventors

  • 👤 Terje Skotheim
  • 👤 Michel Armand

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 23:04
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01M; H01M14/00; H01M14/005; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/20

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 39 words
A photoelectric device comprising: a transparent counter electrode; a thin dry solid film polymer electrolyte adjacent thereto and electrically interacting therewith; a semiconductor adjacent to said polymer electrolyte film; and a conducting base electrode electrically interacting with said semiconductor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 39 words
A photoelectric device comprising: a transparent counter electrode; a thin dry solid film polymer electrolyte adjacent thereto and electrically interacting therewith; a semiconductor adjacent to said polymer electrolyte film; and a conducting base electrode electrically interacting with said semiconductor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein said polymer electrolyte is a polymer matrix containing a reduction oxidation couple.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 13 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said polymer matrix a polyalkene oxide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
A device acccording to claim 3 wherein the polyalkene oxide is one of the group of polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene oxide, or polypropylene glycol.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 13 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein said polymer matrix is polyethylene oxide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device according to claim 2, or 3, or 4, or 5 wherein said reduction oxidation couple is a polysulfide.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
A device according to claim 6 wherein said polysulfide is Na 2 S 4 . PG,15
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 17 words
A device according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said semiconductor is n-type CdS or p-type CdTe.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 20 words
A device according to claim 2, or 3, or 4, or 5 wherein said reduction oxidation couple is a polysulfide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 15 words
A device according to claim 9 wherein said polysulfide is Na 2 S 4 .
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 39 words
A photoelectronchemical cell for the conversion of solar energy to electricity, comprising the combination of a dry solid polymer electrolyte film with a semi-conductor for the absorption of incoming sunlight radiation, said semi-conductor interacting with a conducting base electrode.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 39 words
A photoelectronchemical cell for the conversion of solar energy to electricity, comprising the combination of a dry solid polymer electrolyte film with a semi-conductor for the absorption of incoming sunlight radiation, said semi-conductor interacting with a conducting base electrode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 19 words
A device according to claim 11 wherein said polymer electrolyte is a polymer matrix containing a reduction oxidation couple.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 14 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said polymer matrix is a polyalkene oxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 25 words
A device according to claim 13 wherein the polyalkene oxide is one of the group of polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, polypropylene oxide, or polypropylene glycol.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein said polymer matrix is polyethylene oxide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
A device according to claim 11 or 12 wherein said semiconductor is n-type Cds or p-type CdTe.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4011149A Cited
US4352868A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-01-19 1990-07-21 1991-01-20 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-01-19 1994-07-21 1995-01-20 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-01-19 1998-07-21 1999-01-20 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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