Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus – product – and – Deferred action type – Responsive to light
Patent
1981-10-19
1983-11-22
Weisstuch, Aaron
Chemistry: electrical current producing apparatus, product, and
Deferred action type
Responsive to light
H01M 636
Patent
active
044169590
ABSTRACT:
A double photoelectrochemical cell for converting solar energy directly to electricity. The device in one embodiment has two semiconductors which are separated from each other by a dry solid polymer electrolyte. The two semiconductors have a different band gap; for example, one is n-type CdS and the other is p-type CdTe. The polymer electrolyte, for example, is a thin film polyethylene oxide acting as a polymer matrix containing a polysulfide redox couple, for example, Na.sub.2 S.sub.4. The polymer electrolyte is transparent, insulating and capable of transporting ions. At least one of the semiconductors is semi-transparent. The short wavelengths of light are absorbed by the semi-transparent wide band gap semiconductor, and the long wavelengths pass therethrough, and through the polymer film electrolyte, and are absorbed by the narrow band gap semiconductor. The output of the cell is double; one from each semiconductor, i.e., they are series-connected. Output voltage, for example, is about 0.625 volts. The theoretical efficiencies in the example are about 35%, compared with about 25% for a standard photovoltaic cell having a single junction. Also included is a method of manufacturing such a cell.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4011149 (1977-03-01), Nozik
patent: 4086398 (1978-04-01), Cartmell et al.
patent: 4152490 (1979-05-01), Witzke
Plottel Roland
Weisstuch Aaron
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