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US 11,760,663 B2Granted
Fiber-optic integrated membrane reactor
AssigneeArizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University
InventorsPaul K. Westerhoff, Kiril D. Hristovski, Shahnawaz Sinha
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Abstract
A reactor for water splitting or water treatment includes a first electrode, a second electrode electrically coupled to the first electrode, and a proton exchange membrane separating the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode includes a first optical fiber coated with a photocatalytic material.
Claims19
A reactor comprising:
- a flexible assembly comprising:
- a first electrode layer comprising a multiplicity of first electrodes positioned between a first proton exchange membrane layer and a second proton exchange membrane layer, wherein each of the first electrodes comprises an optical fiber coated with an electrically conductive, photocatalytic material;
- a second electrode layer comprising a multiplicity of second electrodes positioned between a third proton exchange membrane layer and a fourth proton exchange membrane layer, wherein each of the second electrodes comprises an optical fiber coated with an electrically conductive, photocatalytic material;
- and
- a third electrode layer positioned between and electrically coupled to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the third electrode layer is a flexible electrically conductive material,
- wherein the flexible assembly is in the form of a sheet.
3 more elements
A method of producing hydrogen and oxygen from water, the method comprising:
- providing water to a reactor comprising:
- a reservoir;
- and
- a flexible assembly positioned in the reservoir, the flexible assembly comprising:
- a first electrode layer comprising a multiplicity of first electrodes positioned between a first proton exchange membrane layer and a second proton exchange membrane layer, wherein each of the first electrodes comprises an optical fiber coated with an electrically conductive, photocatalytic material;
- a second electrode layer comprising a multiplicity of second electrodes positioned between a third proton exchange membrane layer and a fourth proton exchange membrane layer, wherein each of the second electrodes comprises an optical fiber coated with an electrically conductive, photocatalytic material;
- and
- a third electrode layer positioned between and electrically coupled to the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, wherein the third electrode layer is a flexible electrically conductive material,
- wherein the flexible assembly is in the form of a sheet and wound around a porous conduit;
- providing light into the optical fibers of the first and second electrode layers, thereby yielding photogenerated electrons, wherein the photogenerated electrons flow along the electrically conductive, photocatalytic material of the first and second electrode layers to the third electrode layer;
- and
- converting the water into oxygen gas and hydrogen gas.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.