Photoelectrochemical Cell

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The invention is a photoelectrochemical cell designed to use light—such as sunlight—to split water (or aqueous electrolyte solutions) into hydrogen and oxygen. It integrates a solar cell with an electrochemical cell in a layered structure, allowing direct conversion of solar energy into chemical energy by producing hydrogen and oxygen from water.

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

• Renewable hydrogen production using sunlight for clean fuel generation
• On-site generation of hydrogen for fuel cells or industrial processes
• Integration within solar-powered water-splitting stations for sustainable energy solutions
• Production of oxygen as a byproduct for industrial or medical use

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables environmentally friendly hydrogen production without relying on fossil fuels
• Increases overall efficiency by directly coupling solar conversion with electrochemical water splitting
• Reduces operational costs by eliminating the need for separate solar and electrolyzer units
• Provides a sustainable and scalable approach to generating clean fuels and oxygen

Technical Classifications (CPCs)

Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

The invention relates to a photoelectrochemical cell for light-driven generation of hydrogen and oxygen from water or from another electrolyte based on an aqueous solution, comprising a photoelectric cell unit and an electrochemical cell unit, which are together integrated into a common layer structure and electrically conductively connected to one another, characterized in that a) the photoelectric cell unit, comprising at least one solar cell with substrate, first electrical contact layer, semiconductor layer and second electrical contact layer, is arranged on the light-facing side of the layer structure of the photoelectrochemical cell, b) the electrochemical cell unit is arranged on the light-facing-away side of the layer structure of the photoelectrochemical cell, c) an insulator layer with passages is arranged between the electrochemical cell unit and the photoelectric cell unit, d) the electrochemical cell unit comprises anodes and cathodes, which are each arranged alternately, parallel to one another, without being in surface contact with one another, in one plane and in direct contact with the water or with the electrolyte based on another aqueous solution. The invention further relates to a method for producing a photoelectrochemical cell, in which a photoelectric cell unit and an electrochemical cell unit are integrated in a layer structure, as well as a method for light-driven generation of hydrogen and oxygen from water or another electrolyte based on aqueous solution, in which the photoelectrochemical cell according to the invention is used.