The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 02, 1980
Filed:
Nov. 21, 1979
Daniel H Grantham, Glastonbury, CT (US);
United Technologies Corporation, Hartford, CT (US);
Abstract
Radiant energy in conjunction with an n-type amorphous silicon semiconducting photoanode to at least partially power an electrolytic cell is used in the generation of hydrogen, utilizing a bromide, preferably hydrogen bromide, as the essential electrolyte component in the electrolytic cell to solve overvoltage and corrosion problems associated with the use of conventional electrolytes in similar environments. The use of the bromide electrolyte results in the broadening of the selection of semiconductor electrodes which can be used in the process and apparatus of the present invention enabling the amorphous silicon semiconducting electrode to be used with superior anticorrosive and radiant energy gathering results over conventional systems. To insure against corrosion, the amorphous silicon semiconductor should preferably be used with a thin layer of platinum overcoating. The hydrogen generated from such system can be used to power a fuel cell.