Photoelectrolysis method and means
US4650554A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 24, 1985 |
| Grant date | Mar 17, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 24, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S136/291
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An integrated photoelectrolytic apparatus for catalyzing the photodecomposition of a liquid electrolyte, such as water, into its gaseous decomposition products includes a photovoltaic section bonded mechanically and electrically to one surface of a porous electronically conductive barrier section which is arranged to inhibit the evolution of decomposition products at its pore surfaces. A catalyst for the electrolytic evolution of a decomposition product is applied to the opposite surface of said barrier section so that when the bonded-together sections are wetted by an electrolyte and light is incident on the photovoltaic section, one decomposition product evolves at the exposed surface of the photovoltaic section while another decomposition product evolves at the catalytic surface of the barrier section.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.