Modified catalysts and process for the solar reduction of water

US4606798A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Commonwealth of Australia Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization CNT AUX COD 07 · AU

Inventors

• Wolfgang H. F. Sasse · Bubenreuth, DE
• Oddvar Johansen · Melbourne, AU
• Albert Mau · Melbourne, AU
• Jean Drummond Swift · Cockatoo, AU

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 23, 1985
• Grant date: Aug 19, 1986
• Expiry date: Apr 23, 2005

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E60/36
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A solar reaction system which produces hydrogen by reduction of hydronium ions using methylviologen or a related compound as an electron-transfer agent and a platinum electron-transfer catalyst, wherein the catalyst is modified with a water-soluble divalent sulphur compound, or a sulphur compound in which the sulphur is reducible to the divalent state, in an amount sufficient to inhibit hydrogenation side-reactions during the solar reduction process but not sufficient to significantly suppress the reduction of hydronium ion to hydrogen by the electron-transfer agent.