Grumman Aerospace Corporation

Optel Corporation

Refac Electronics Corporation

Satyendra K Deb

Horst Witzke

Schoen-nan Chen

Michael A Russak

Joseph Reichman

Steven Robert Jost

Photoelectrochemical cell structures and methods of fabrication are disclosed which provide for easily manufactured efficient energy conversion devices. The structures incorporate one or more chambers for the electrolyte, and utilize semiconductor photoelectrodes. In the plural chamber structure, the semiconductor may be opaque, and need not necessarily be a thin film. Specific dopants for the semiconductor provide for decreased dark current and increased open circuit voltage. Post deposition treatment is disclosed for the semiconductor to provide an increased shorting current. Increased sputtering wattage is provided to increase the short circuit current available from the cell. An electrolyte composition is described having improved performance at high light intensity.

Method of manufacturing photoelectrochemical cell

Photoelectrochemical cell structures and methods of fabricaton are disclosed which provide for easily manufactured efficient energy conversion devices. The structures incorporate one or more chambers for the electrolyte, and utilize semiconductor photoelectrodes. In the plural chamber structure, the semiconductor may be opaque, and need not necessarily be a thin film. Specific dopants for the semiconductor provide for decreased dark current and increased open circuit voltage. Post deposition treatment is disclosed for the semiconductor to provide an increased shorting current. Increased sputtering wattage is provided to increase the short circuit current available from the cell. An electrolyte composition is described having improved performance at high light intensity. In a multi-chamber embodiment, the electrode placement causes the photoactive site to be at an end of the chamber removed from the irradiation window, thereby permitting the use of non-transparent photoelectrodes. A third embodiment is disclosed including two photoelectrodes, in combination with a properly selected electrolyte, to provide response to two different portions of the spectrum at an increase operating efficiency. A method and apparatus is disclosed for utilizing a photoelectrochemical cell of the type provided in a dual role, both for electrical conversion of impinging radiation and for heat utilization resulting therefrom. Finally, a multi-chamber, multi-electrolyte structure is disclosed providing electrical charge storage after termination of radiation.

Photoelectrochemical cell

An electrochromic device having an electrochromic layer and an electrolyte sandwiched between electrodes. A charge compensator ion permeable layer is interposed between the electrochromic layer and the electrolyte. The latter-mentioned interposing layer serves as a protective overcoat for the electrochromic layer and minimizes the structural decay of the cell which might otherwise occur. SU

Electrochromic cell with protective overcoat layer

A sealed device includes an electrode having a semiconductor thin film coating. A liquid electrolyte contacts the thin film to form a photoactive interface which converts light energy to electrical energy. A counterelectrode is positioned in spaced relation to the electrode and also contacts the electrolyte. Leads are connected to the electrode and counterelectrode so that a load may be driven by the device when the device is exposed to light.

Thin film photogalvanic cell

A photogalvanic cell includes a glass substrate with a transparent electrode which receives irradiating light energy. A second electrode is positioned in spaced relationship from the first electrode and has a thin film of charge storing tungsten oxide deposited thereon. Spaced from both the transparent electrode and the tungsten oxide thin film is a counterelectrode. An electrolyte having TiO.sub.2 powder mixed therein forms a photoactive site at the surface of the transparent electrode. By physically separating the tungsten oxide thin film from the transparent electrode, more light irradiates the TiO.sub.2 thereby increasing the photoconversion of the cell.

Triple electrode photogalvanic cell with energy storage capability

A photogalvanic cell includes a conducting SnO.sub.2 electrode upon which is deposited a semi-transparent film of Ti. A metal oxide thin film, such as TiO.sub.2 is in turn deposited upon the semi-transparent Ti thin film. An aqueous (acid or base) electrolyte contacts the metal oxide thin film to form a photoactive site for converting light to electrical energy. The semi-transparent film reduces the internal resistance of the cell by assisting charge transfer between the metal oxide film and the electrode. Also, use of a semi-transparent film permits bi-directional irradiation of the cell to increase photoconversion efficiency.

Photogalvanic cell having transparent photoactive TIO.sub.2 thin film

A photogalvanic cell having an electrode and a counterelectrode positioned in spaced registry. A charge storage layer containing a transition metal oxide covers the electrode while a semi-solid electrolyte covers the counterelectrode. An overcoat layer containing tin oxide is disposed in intervening contact between the charge storage layer and the semi-solid electrolyte. The cell converts light energy to electrical energy and also stores electrical charge for use after the cell is no longer exposed to light.

Energy storing photogalvanic cell having dielectric overcoating

A charge storing photogalvanic cell including spaced electrode and counterelectrode 'sandwiching' a charge storage layer and a compensating layer. Various dopants to the charge storage layer have been determined to vary cell performance as follows: increasing photosensitivity and charge retention; increasing electrical response; increasing device life; decreasing charge retention; changing optical absorption of charge storage layer; or localizing destruction of charge storage capability.

Photogalvanic cell having a charge storage layer with varying

A photogalvanic cell has a glass substrate through which irradiating light passes. A light transparent conductive thin film serves as an electrode, the film being deposited upon the glass substrate. Another layer is an electrolyte and includes an aqueous medium having TiO.sub.2 suspended therein, the TiO.sub.2 forming photoactive sites with the remaining ingredients of the electrolyte. The electrolyte layer further includes N-methylphenazine methosulfate dye which has photoconversion and electrical storage properties. During irradiation the cell may drive a load, or stored energy resulting from irradiation may drive a load after the source of irradiation is removed.

Growing community of inventors

East Brunswick, NJ, United States of America

Satyendra K Deb