Modular photocatalytic system
AssigneeUniversita' Degli Studi Di Ferrara
InventorsDonato Vincenzi, Micol Boschetti, Paolo Bernardoni, Carlo Alberto Bignozzi, Stefano Caramori, Vito Cristino, Luisa Pasti
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Abstract
A fully stand-alone modular system which integrates tandems of photo-anodes and photovoltaic cells in a photo-electrochemical cell configuration. Such a system consists of devices capable of using only solar energy, in particular by utilizing the visible spectrum, so as to decontaminate the wastewater from emerging pollutants, with the simultaneous production of hydrogen as an added value to the decontamination process, by means of photocatalytic processes.
Claims16
A photo-electrochemical device for forming a photo-electrochemical system for photo-oxidation of organic substances and production of hydrogen from aqueous solution, which acts as an electrolyte, using solar radiation, completely stand-alone and modular, wherein the device integrates a tandem of a photo-active electrode, referred to as a photo-anode, and photovoltaic cells, electrically connected, the device comprising:
- a) a tandem configuration of a cell consisting of a photo-active electrode in contact with an aqueous solution capable of producing hydroxyl radicals from solar radiation so as to oxidize organic substances present in aqueous solution and a cell consisting of photovoltaic cells capable of generating a voltage required for the reduction of protons generated in hydrogen, developed on a second electrode in contact with the aqueous solution;
- and
- b) an integrated circuit powered by the photovoltaic cells for management of the polarization and depolarization cycles of the photo-active electrode, wherein the photovoltaic cells and a printed circuit do not come into contact with the aqueous solution due to an encapsulant placed along edges of the photo-anode and on a side of the printed circuit facing a cathode where electronic components, also protected by the encapsulant itself, are present.
A photo-electrochemical device for forming a photo-electrochemical system for photo-oxidation of organic substances and production of hydrogen from aqueous solution, which acts as an electrolyte, using solar radiation, completely stand-alone and modular, wherein the device integrates a tandem of a photo-active electrode, referred to as a photo-anode, and photovoltaic cells, electrically connected, the device comprising:
- a) a tandem configuration of a cell consisting of a photo-active electrode in contact with an aqueous solution capable of producing hydroxyl radicals from solar radiation so as to oxidize organic substances present in aqueous solution and a cell consisting of photovoltaic cells capable of generating a voltage required for the reduction of protons generated in hydrogen, developed on a second electrode in contact with the aqueous solution;
- and
- b) an integrated circuit powered by the photovoltaic cells for management of the polarization and depolarization cycles of the photo-active electrode,
- wherein the photo-electrochemical device comprises an external structure made of PVC which encloses a tandem device, constructed so as to make a system modular and combinable.
A photo-electrochemical system for photo-oxidation of organic substances and production of hydrogen from aqueous solution, which acts as an electrolyte, using solar radiation, completely stand-alone and modular, consisting of photo-electrochemical devices, each of which mainly comprises:
- a) a tandem configuration of a cell consisting of a photo-active electrode in contact with an aqueous solution capable of producing hydroxyl radicals from solar radiation so as to oxidize organic substances present in aqueous solution and a cell consisting of photovoltaic cells capable of generating a voltage required for the reduction of protons generated in hydrogen, developed on a second electrode in contact with the aqueous solution;
- and
- b) an integrated circuit powered by the photovoltaic cells for management of the polarization and depolarization cycles of the photo-active electrode,
- wherein the photo-electrochemical system is enclosed by a structure made of plexiglass or glass which contains said photo-electrochemical devices and the aqueous solution to be treated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.