Photo-electrolytic catalyst systems and method for hydrogen production from water

a photo-electrolytic and catalyst technology, applied in the field of photo-electrolytic catalyst systems, can solve the problems of insufficient photolysis, inability to readily or effectively optimize, and insufficient efficiency, yield, and rate, so as to facilitate separation of radiation-generated electrons, reduce the probability of charge carrier recombination, and improve the effect of ra

Inactive Publication Date: 2005-03-10
JANG BOR Z
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This invention provides simple (non-complicated) but effective photo-electrolytic catalyst systems which comprise two materials: (a) a semiconductor material with a non-zero energy gap Eg which, in response to an incident radiation having an energy greater than Eg, generates electron-hole pairs as charge carriers; and (b) a facilitating material in elect

Problems solved by technology

This complicated device includes a multiplicity of stacked photoelectric or photovoltaic elements between a substrate and an electrode, a counter-electrode, and an unbiased external circuit.
The above inventions have one or several of the following drawbacks: (1) complicated junctions or multiple-layer structures, (2) insufficient photolytic or photo-electrolyti

Method used

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  • Photo-electrolytic catalyst systems and method for hydrogen production from water
  • Photo-electrolytic catalyst systems and method for hydrogen production from water
  • Photo-electrolytic catalyst systems and method for hydrogen production from water

Examples

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example 1

A micro-crystalline powder of GaP (average particle size≈0.7 μm) was doped with sulfur to produce an n-type semiconductor. A thin layer of platinum (Pt) was sputter-coated over a portion of individual n-GaP particles to serve as a facilitating material. When such a photo-electrolytic catalyst system was suspended in an aqueous solution, hydrogen was evolved.

example 2

Materials similar to those in Example 1 were used, but the average particle size of GaP was slightly below 100 nm. When such a photo-electrolytic catalyst system was suspended in the same aqueous solution, hydrogen was much more vigorously evolved.

example 3

Several samples were prepared for this example. As in Example 2, nano-scaled n-type GaP powder was used, but the facilitating materials were Mn, Fe, Ni, and Co, respectively. When such photo-electrolytic catalyst systems were suspended in the same aqueous solution, hydrogen was vigorously evolved. The solar-to-hydrogen power conversion efficiencies for these samples were found to be in the following order: Mn≈Fe>Ni>Co (as facilitating materials).

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Abstract

A photo-electrolytic catalyst system which comprises two materials: (a) a semiconductor material with a non-zero energy gap Eg which, in response to an incident radiation having an energy greater than Eg, generates electron-hole pairs as charge carriers; and (b) a facilitating material in electronic contact with the semiconductor material to facilitate separation of the radiation-generated electrons from the holes to reduce the probability of charge carrier recombinations The catalyst makes use of both majority and minority charge carriers to promote photo-electrolysis reactions for producing hydrogen directly from water or an aqueous electrolyte at higher rates and improved efficiencies.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a photo-electrolytic catalyst system for water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen gases. This invention also provides a method of using an improved semiconductor-based photo-electrolytic catalyst to promote solar energy conversion of water or aqueous electrolyte into hydrogen. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A fuel cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy and some thermal energy by means of a chemical reaction between hydrogen-containing fuel and oxygen. As compared to other energy sources, fuel cells provide advantages that include low pollution, high efficiency, high energy density and simple fuel recharge. Fuel cells can be used in electrochemical engines, portable power supplies for various microelectronic and communication devices, standby power supply facilities, power generating systems, etc. Further, fuel cells utilize renewable resources and provide an alternative to burning fossil fuels to generate power. For ...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): B01J27/14B01J35/00B01J37/34C25B1/00
CPCB01J27/14B01J35/0033Y02E60/368B82Y30/00C25B1/003B01J37/347C25B1/55Y02E60/36
Inventor JANG, BOR Z.
Owner JANG BOR Z
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