Photovoltaic Hybrid Electrolysis Cell

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This patent describes a photovoltaic hybrid electrolysis cell designed for direct, light-induced splitting of water to generate hydrogen. The core innovation lies in a new cell architecture: the cathode is formed as a photocathode using one or more thin-film semiconductor layers, separated from the electrolyte by a protective, electrically conductive hydrogen barrier. This design is optimized for efficient hydrogen production, stability, and manufacturability, with a simple, unstructured conductive layer and enhanced protection against hydrogen-induced degradation.

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

• On-site green hydrogen production from solar energy for industrial processes
• Integration into renewable energy plants for energy storage and fuel generation
• Decentralized hydrogen generation for fuel cell vehicles and refueling stations
• Off-grid hydrogen production in remote or rural areas
• Electrolyzer modules in solar-to-fuel conversion systems

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Enables direct solar-to-hydrogen conversion with high efficiency
• Reduces complexity and cost in fabrication due to unstructured conductive layers
• Improves long-term stability by protecting semiconductor layers from hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion
• Allows flexible selection of semiconductor and catalyst materials for optimal performance
• Provides a compact and flat cell design with minimal membrane area, saving space and reducing materials
• Enables reliable hydrogen production less dependent on real-time sunlight fluctuations
• Supports scalable and modular deployments for various application sizes

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Inventors & Applicants

Patent Abstract

In a known electrolysis cell for direct generation of hydrogen by photoelectrolysis, the semiconductor structures and the electrolyte are separated from one another and the light is incident through a superstrate. The band matching of the semiconductor structures is thus independent of the electrochemical potentials during splitting of water. The yield of the water splitting depends on the light incidence into the photoanode, however. The conductivity of the dark cathode is in turn dependent on the transparent front contact layer. An insulation layer, which is electrically nonconductive and used only for corrosion protection, is arranged between the rear contact layer of the photocathode and the hydrogen catalyst layer. In the hybrid electrolysis cell (01) according to the invention, the cathode is constructed as a photocathode (04) with one or more thin-film semiconductor structures, and the polarity of said cathode is independent of the polarity of the conductive layer (12), but instead depends on the current light incidence. The conductive layer (12) is formed continuously on the underside (13) of the superstrate (14) and therefore does not require any structuring effort, with simultaneously good current conduction. Furthermore, the insulation layer according to the invention is formed as an electrically conductive hydrogen barrier layer (21) and protects the photocathode (04) from hydrogen embrittlement and thus degradation during operation.