566results about "Photoelectrochemical storage cells" patented technology

An electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and conductive particles as main components, an electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid, and oxide semiconductor particles or oxide semiconductor particles, and conductive particles, and an electrolyte composition containing an ionic liquid and insulating particles are provided. Furthermore, a photoelectric conversion element comprising: a working electrode, the working electrode comprising an electrode substrate and an oxide semiconductor porous film formed on the electrode substrate and sensitized with a dye; a counter electrode disposed opposing the working electrode; and an electrolyte layer made of these electrolyte compositions is provided.

Catalytic materials, photoanodes, and systems for electrolysis and/or formation of water are provided which can be used for energy storage, particularly in the area of solar energy conversion, and/or production of oxygen and/or hydrogen. Compositions and methods for forming photoanodes and other devices are also provided.

A transparent conductive multi-layer structure having a smooth base material 1, a transparent conductive layer 2 formed on the smooth base material 1 by coating, an auxiliary electrode layer 3 formed in a pattern on the transparent conductive layer 2, and a transparent substrate 5 joined to the transparent conductive layer 2 and auxiliary electrode layer 3 through an adhesive layer 4. On a smooth peeled-off surface of the transparent conductive layer 2 from which the smooth base material 1 has been peeled off, various devices are formed to set up devices such as a dye-sensitized solar cell and an organic electroluminescent device.

An energy storage system for charging/discharging power of a plurality of battery packs connected between a grid and a variable power source, the energy storage system including an inverter connected between the grid, the plurality of battery packs, and the variable power source, the inverter inverting an AC power into a DC power and inverting a DC power into an AC power according to charge/discharge, a plurality of converters connected between the battery pack, the variable power source, and the grid, the converters being connected to the battery packs in a one-to-one relationship to convert a charge/discharge power of the battery packs, respectively, a plurality of battery switching devices, the battery switching devices being respectively connected between the converters and the battery packs, and a controller connected to the inverter and the converter to control driving, the controller controlling a turn-on/off operation of the battery switching devices.

A photoelectrochemical cell (1) includes an electrolyte container (3) containing an ionic liquid (2), and a partitioning membrane (4) dividing an interior of the electrolyte container (3) into two being a CO₂ capturing chamber (7) and a CO₂ releasing chamber (8), having side walls opposing each other, with the partitioning membrane (4) in between, either as a carbon electrode (5) and the other as a photoelectrode (6). A redox mediator (B) has different bonding forces to carbon dioxide, as it appears as an oxidant B_ox and a reductant B_red, of which that one which has a greater bonding force serves as an intermediary chemical species carrying carbon dioxide to one of the paired electrodes (5, 6). Over the CO₂ releasing chamber (10), an upper wall portion (10) is formed, which has a CO₂ take-out port (10A) formed therein, for making use of oxidation and reduction of the redox mediator to achieve separation and concentration of carbon dioxide, converting photo energy of sunlight into electric power.

A photoelectric transducer having a relatively simple structure and capable of reducing the loss of light energy of incident light and conductor loss due to electrical resistance. A photoelectric transducer 16A includes a conductive layer 2; a electrolytic layer 3 that is in contact with the conductive layer 2; a charge separating layer 4; a transparent conductive layer 5 and a metal lines 7, which are in contact with the charge separating layer 4; and convex lenses 8 converging incident light 15 on openings 20 provided between the metal lines 7, the incident light 15 being converged on the charge separating layer 4 by the convex lenses 8. Electrons generated by photoelectric conversion move to the exterior through an external circuit 17 having a low resistivity.

A redox cell rebalance system is provided. In some embodiments, the rebalance system includes electrochemical cell and a photochemical cell. In some embodiments, the photochemical cell contains a source of ultraviolet radiation for producing HCl from H₂ and Cl₂ generated by the system. The HCl product may be collected or circulated back through the system for the rebalancing of electrolytes. A rebalance cell for use in a rebalance system is also provided. In some embodiments, the rebalance cell is the combination of an electrochemical cell and a photochemical cell. In some embodiments, a source of ultraviolet radiation is housed in the cathode compartment of the rebalance cell. In some embodiments, the source of ultraviolet radiation is used to effect the formation of HCl from H₂ and Cl₂ present in the rebalance cell. The HCl is dissolved in aqueous electrolytes contained in the rebalance cell, which can subsequently be circulated through a rebalance system for the rebalancing of redox cells.

A method of making a thin-film device including a substrate-supply station that supplies a substrate. The substrate has a first layer on the substrate. Also described is a method and device for depositing a second layer onto the first layer, wherein energy supplied to the second layer aids in layer formation without substantially heating the substrate. Some embodiments include depositing a photovoltaic cell. In some embodiments, the substrate is a flexible material supplied from a roll. Some embodiments include attaching an integrated circuit to the substrate and operatively coupling the integrated circuit to charge the battery from the photovoltaic cell.

A photovoltaic module with photovoltaic cell and a heat sink. The heat sink is attached on a side of the cell opposite to the light-receiving side of the photovoltaic cell. The heat sink can remove heat caused by light absorbed by the photovoltaic cell but not converted to electricity as well as heat generated by resistance to high current passing through electrodes of the photovoltaic cell. A photovoltaic module formed of such cells can exhibit greater energy conversion efficiency as a result of the ability to dissipate the heat. A method of making a solar module involves e.g. laminating a heat sink to a photovoltaic cell.

An integrated photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell generates hydrogen and oxygen from water while being illuminated with radiation. The PEC cell employs a liquid electrolyte, a multi-junction photovoltaic electrode, and a thin ion-exchange membrane. A PEC system and a method of making such PEC cell and PEC system are also disclosed.

A power generation and supply system utilizing one or more solar cells to produce electricity and hydrogen. The power generation and supply system includes an electrolyzer powered by the one or more solar cells for producing hydrogen, a hydrogen distribution system for distributing the hydrogen produced by the electrolyzer, a rechargeable battery for storing electricity produced by the solar cells, and an electricity distribution. The power generation and supply system according may further comprise a hydrogen fueled fuel cell which receives hydrogen produced by the electrolyzer and produces electricity as needed to recharge the rechargeable battery and/or power one or more electrical devices.

An interconnected photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell (1) generates hydrogen and oxygen from water while being illuminated with radiation such as sunlight. The photovoltaic structure in the photoelectrode is deposited on a transparent and insulating substrate (also called superstrate) (3) that is covered with a transparent conducting layer (front electrode) (4). The front electrode is electrically connected to the back side of the photovoltaic structure such that the PLC cell can be made with high efficiency and high durability and at low cost. Three types of photoelectrodes and phtoelectrochemical cells are illustrated as examples.

The present invention relates to a solid electrolyte having superior conductive properties and reliability, a photovoltaic device using this electrolyte, and manufacturing methods thereof. The solid electrolyte of the present invention is a solid electrolyte having an electrolyte composition and a matrix polymer. The matrix polymer is formed by polymerization of a first compound having at least two isocyanate groups and a second compound having at least two nucleophilic groups containing active hydrogen in accordance with a polyaddition reaction, and the polymerization is performed after a precursor for the matrix polymer is brought into contact with a surface on which the solid electrolyte is to be formed.

Metal oxide structures, devices, and fabrication methods are provided. In addition, applications of such structures, devices, and methods are provided. In some embodiments, an oxide material can include a substrate and a single-crystal epitaxial layer of an oxide composition disposed on a surface of the substrate, where the oxide composition is represented by ABO₂ such that A is a lithium cation, B is a cation selected from the group consisting of trivalent transition metal cations, trivalent lanthanide cations, trivalent actinide cations, trivalent p-block cations, and combinations thereof, and O is an oxygen anion. The unit cell of crystal structure of the oxide composition can be characterized by first layer of a plane of lithium cations and a second layer of a plurality of edge-sharing octahedra having a B cation positioned in a center of each octahedron and an oxygen anion at each corner of each octahedron. The first layer and the second layer of the unit cell are alternatingly stacked along one axis of the unit cell. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.

A dye-sensitized solar cell according to one aspect of the present invention includes: a first base member having a first substrate provided with a light-transmitting property, a light-transmitting conductive layer formed on a surface of the first substrate and a semiconductor electrode formed on a surface of the light-transmitting conductive layer and containing a sensitizing dye; a second base member having a second substrate and a catalyst layer formed on a surface of the second substrate in such a manner that the catalyst layer faces the semiconductor electrode; an electrolyte layer formed between the semiconductor electrode and the catalyst layer; and either a collector electrode containing tungsten or a pair of collector electrodes, at least one of which contains tungsten, to collect charge from the semiconductor electrode. The dye-sensitized solar cell of this aspect of the present invention not only shows a sufficient photoelectric conversion efficiency but attains excellent durability by prevention of corrector electrode corrosion.

The present invention relates to an organic dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device and a solar cell utilizing the same. In accordance with a demand to now for development of an organic dye-sensitized photoelectric conversion device with high conversion efficiency and high practicability using an inexpensive dye, there is provided in the present invention, a photoelectric conversion device with high conversion efficiency by producing a photoelectric conversion device by sensitizing fine semiconductor particles with a methine dye having specified skeleton.

A photoelectrochemical (PEC) cell includes a photovoltaic electrode that generates voltage under radiation; a solid membrane electrode assembly that includes at least one solid polymer electrolyte and first and second electrodes; a mechanism that collect gases from oxidation and reduction reactions; and an electrical connection between the photovoltaic electrode and the solid membrane electrode assembly. A PEC system and a method of making such PEC cell and PEC system are also disclosed.

The present invention provides a semiconductor electrode of organic dye-sensitized metal oxide having a semiconductor layer of metal oxide that can be easily prepared, and an organic dye-sensitized solar cell. The semiconductor electrode of organic dye-sensitized metal oxide comprises a substrate having a transparent electrode thereon, a semiconductor layer of metal oxide provided on the electrode and an organic dye absorbed on a surface of the semiconductor layer, the semiconductor layer being formed by a vapor deposition process.