Photoelectrochemical device and electrode

Chemistry: electrical and wave energy – Apparatus – Electrolytic

Reexamination Certificate

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

C204S242000, C204S290010, C204S291000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07052587

ABSTRACT:
In one aspect, the invention provides a photoelectrochemical (PEC) electrode or photoelectrode for use in splitting water by electrolysis. The photoelectrode has an electrically conductive surface in contact with an electrolyte solution. This surface is a doped tin oxide layer, which is in electrical contact with the semiconductor solar cell material of the PEC photoelectrode. In a variation of the present invention, another layer of metal oxide having transparent, anti-reflective, and conductive properties is disposed between the doped tin oxide layer and the semiconductor material.

REFERENCES:
patent: 4266338 (1981-05-01), Chen et al.
patent: 4466869 (1984-08-01), Ayers
patent: 4492743 (1985-01-01), Howe
patent: 4511638 (1985-04-01), Sapru et al.
patent: 4534099 (1985-08-01), Howe
patent: 4544473 (1985-10-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 4545883 (1985-10-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 4650554 (1987-03-01), Gordon
patent: 4656103 (1987-04-01), Reichman et al.
patent: 4698234 (1987-10-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 4737379 (1988-04-01), Hudgens et al.
patent: 4778579 (1988-10-01), Levy et al.
patent: 4859532 (1989-08-01), Oyama et al.
patent: 4891330 (1990-01-01), Guha et al.
patent: 4954182 (1990-09-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 5103284 (1992-04-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 5180690 (1993-01-01), Czubatyj et al.
patent: 5231047 (1993-07-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 5670224 (1997-09-01), Izu et al.
patent: 5879828 (1999-03-01), Debe et al.
patent: 6063258 (2000-05-01), Sayama et al.
patent: 6087580 (2000-07-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 6136412 (2000-10-01), Spiewak et al.
patent: 6300558 (2001-10-01), Takamoto et al.
patent: 6305442 (2001-10-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 6319293 (2001-11-01), Debe et al.
patent: 6368668 (2002-04-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 6380601 (2002-04-01), Ermer et al.
patent: 6410180 (2002-06-01), Cisar et al.
patent: 6423203 (2002-07-01), Faita et al.
patent: 6432284 (2002-08-01), Narayanan et al.
patent: 6471834 (2002-10-01), Roe et al.
patent: 6519951 (2003-02-01), Ovshinsky et al.
patent: 6521381 (2003-02-01), Vyas et al.
patent: 6569298 (2003-05-01), Merida-Donis
patent: 6610193 (2003-08-01), Schmitman
patent: 6666961 (2003-12-01), Skoczylas et al.
patent: 6936143 (2005-08-01), Graetzel et al.
patent: 2005/0059186 (2005-03-01), Kelly et al.
patent: WO2005036570 (2005-04-01), None
Deng and Schiff, 2002, “Amorphous Silicon Based Solar Cells,” chapter separately published on Xunming Deng's website: http://www.physics.utoledo.edu/˜dengz/papers/deng03a.pdf. Also published in 2003 by Deng and Schiff. Chapter 12, pp. 505-565 inHandbook of Photovoltaic Engineering,, ed. A. Luque & S. Hegedus, by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., no month available.
Deng et al., 1998, “Study of Sputter Deposition of ITO Films for a-Si:H n-i-p Solar Cells,” in Proceedings of 2nd World Conference and Exhibition on Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conversion, 700-703, no month available.
Arcosta et al., 1996, “About the Structural, Optical and Electrical Properties of SnO2Films Produced by Spray Pyrolysis from Solutions with Low and High Contents of Fluorine,” Thin Solid Films, 288, 1-7, no month available.
Proceedings of the 2002 U.S. DOE Hydrogen Program Review NREL/CP-610-32405 entitled, “Photoelectrochemical Systems for Hydrogen Production”, authored by Varner et al., 2002, no month available.
“Proceedings of the 2000 Hydrogen Program Review” NREL/CP-570-28890 entitled, “Photoelectrochemical Hydrogen Production”, authored by Miller and Rocheleau, 2000, no month available.
“High-efficiency Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Solar Cells” by Dr. Xunming Deng, 2 pages, Toledo website: dengx@physics.utoledo.edu, no/month/year available.
Deng, Liao, Han, Povolny and Agarwal, (2000) “Amorphous Silicon and Silicon Germanium Materials for High-efficiency Triple-junction Solar Cells”, pp. 89-95, website: www.clsevier.com/locate/solmat, no month available.
“Pilkington TEC Glass” (1999), 2 pages, product brochure, no month available.
U.S. Appl. No. 11/156,993, filed Jun. 14, 2005, Gibson, et al.
HOGEN®RE Hydrogen Generators, Enabling Zero Emissions Hydrogen Supply, Proton Energy Systems® Transforming Energy™, 3 pgs, http://www.protonenergy.com/index.php/html/energysystems/home/Index.html, Jun. 2, 2004.

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for the USA inventors and patents. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Photoelectrochemical device and electrode does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Photoelectrochemical device and electrode, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Photoelectrochemical device and electrode will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3549905

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.