Alkaline Photoelectrochemical Cell

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This invention concerns a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) designed for the light-driven production of hydrogen and oxygen from water in an alkaline environment. The key innovation is a special multi-layer structure of the photoelectrode that allows the cell to operate efficiently under basic conditions without relying on expensive noble-metal catalysts. The structure includes a transparent adhesion-promoting layer (such as nickel, chromium, tungsten, or hafnium), a mirror layer (silver, copper, or aluminum), and an anti-corrosion layer out of nickel or its alloys, enabling durability and high light conversion efficiency even with silicon-based solar cells in caustic (alkaline) electrolytes.

Use CasesContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Solar-powered hydrogen production plants for green fuel generation
• Decentralized hydrogen generation systems for industrial or residential use
• Standalone energy storage solutions in renewable energy grids (using hydrogen as a storage medium)
• On-site oxygen and hydrogen production for laboratories or chemical processes
• Portable devices for producing hydrogen in remote areas with solar access

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Allows production of hydrogen without using expensive noble-metal catalysts, reducing costs significantly.
• The special electrode structure improves durability and resistance to alkaline corrosion, increasing device lifespan.
• High light efficiency due to mirror and texture layers, leading to higher hydrogen output from solar energy.
• Utilizes inexpensive, widely available silicon solar cells, making large-scale production feasible.
• Integrated, compact design reduces space requirements and potential electrical losses compared to conventional separated systems.
• Supports sustainable and scalable hydrogen production, enabling a transition to carbon-free energy carriers.

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Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a photoelectrochemical cell (PEC) for the light-driven production of hydrogen and oxygen from an aqueous medium in a basic environment. The invention further relates to the production of the photoelectrode of the photoelectrochemical cell and to a method for the light-driven production of hydrogen and oxygen by using the photoelectrochemical cell. The problem addressed by the invention is that of specifying a PEC that operates under alkaline conditions and therefore can forgo noble-metal catalysts, that achieves high light efficiency, and that is durable despite the alkaline conditions. This problem is solved by means of a photoelectrochemical cell, the photoelectrode of which has a special multi-layer layer structure, namely at least d) having a transparent adhesion-promoting layer, which is applied directly to the mentioned solar cell or a further solar cell and which is composed of one of the following metals or of an alloy of one or more of these metals: nickel, chromium, tungsten, hafnium; e) having a mirror layer, which is applied directly to the adhesion-promoting layer and which is composed of one of the following metals or of an alloy of one or more of these metals: silver, copper, aluminum; f) and having an anti-corrosion layer, which is applied directly to the mirror layer and adjoins the reaction chamber and is composed of nickel or of an alloy containing nickel.