# US 10,121,601 B2 · Photoelectrode material and photocell material

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- Number: US 10,121,601 B2
- Document ID: US10121601B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/826,679
- Filed: 2015-08-14
- Published: 2015-12-10
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2012-05-22
- Assignees: International Frontier Technology Laboratory, Inc.
- Applicants: International Frontier Technology Laboratory, Inc.
- Inventors: Nobuaki Komatsu; Tomoko Ito; Hiroki Nagai
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10121601B2

## CPC

- H01G 9/2027: {comprising an oxide semiconductor electrode}
- C25B 1/55: Photoelectrolysis
- C25B 11/04: characterised by the material
- C25B 11/049: Photocatalysts
- Y02E 10/542: Dye sensitized solar cells
- Y02E 10/547: Monocrystalline silicon PV cells
- H01G: CAPACITORS; CAPACITORS, RECTIFIERS, DETECTORS, SWITCHING DEVICES, LIGHT-SENSITIVE OR TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE DEVICES OF THE ELECTROLYTIC TYPE (selection of specified materials as dielectric H01B3/00; capacitors having potential barriers H10D1/62, H10K10/10)
- C25B: ELECTROLYTIC OR ELECTROPHORETIC PROCESSES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COMPOUNDS OR NON-METALS; APPARATUS THEREFOR (anodic or cathodic protection C23F13/00; single-crystal growth C30B)
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method of generating electricity utilizing silicon oxide is provided. The method includes irradiating a light to a photocell comprising a photovoltaic material which consists essentially of silicon oxide in a manner that causes the silicon oxide to generate the electricity in response to the irradiation of light, and correcting the electricity from the photovoltaic material.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of generating electricity, comprising:
irradiating a light to a photocell comprising a photovoltaic material which consists essentially of silicon oxide in a manner that causes the silicon oxide to function as the photovoltaic material so as to generate the electricity in response to the irradiation of light; and
collecting the electricity from the photovoltaic material.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon oxide has been treated with halogen acid.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method according to claim 2, wherein the halogen acid is hydrofluoric acid or hydrochloric acid.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon oxide is synthetic quartz.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon oxide is fused quartz glass.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon oxide is soda-lime glass.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon oxide is non-alkali glass.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon oxide is borosilicate glass.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the silicon oxide is glass fiber.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said irradiating the light comprises irradiating an indoor light which does not include an ultraviolet light.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein said irradiating the light comprises irradiating a light having a wavelength larger than a wavelength of an ultraviolet light.