Light energy conversion
US4100051A · kind A · utility
21Cited by
4References
23Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1976 |
| Grant date | Jul 11, 1978 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 1996 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S204/03
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Solar energy conversion is provided by a structure formed of a plurality of photovoltaic sources. An electrolyte wets the sources. Upon exposure to light the photovoltaic sources cause a current to flow in the electrolyte, producing an electrochemical reaction. The products of this reaction are collected and stored. In a preferred embodiment the electrolyte is an aqueous solution of hydrogen iodide, and the hydrogen produced by the electrochemical reaction may be stored, burned as a fuel or used in a fuel cell to produce electrical energy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.