Photocatalytic panel and system for recovering output products thereof

US8567133B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Siemens Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Osman Ahmed · Hawthorn Woods, US
• Maximilian Fleischer · Ehrenkirchen, DE
• Beate Schlageter · Birkenfeld, DE
• Heinrich Zeininger · Obermichelbach, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 5, 2011
• Grant date: Oct 29, 2013
• Expiry date: Oct 8, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/40
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A system and method is provided for using sunlight to convert an atmospheric gas to an output product and capture that output product. A photocatalytic element is encapsulated within a chamber in which the chamber is light transmissive, and is substantially permeable to the atmospheric gas and substantially impermeable to the output product. The photocatalytic element may be composed of a photocatalytic composition, comprising a first constituent capable of capturing or binding an atmospheric gas, a second constituent capable of reducing the atmospheric gas using energy from the sunlight, and a third constituent adapted to absorb sunlight, all combined into a single polymer. A fourth constituent may be added that is hydrophobic or hydrophilic depending upon the nature of the other three combined constituents.