Photoelectrochemical secondary cell and battery
OwnerJohn M. Guerrainventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A photoelectrochemical secondary cell comprising a photocatalytic anode, or photoanode; an anode; a cathode comprising a metal hydride; electrolyte; separator; and case at least a portion of which is transparent to the electromagnetic radiation required by said photoanode to charge said photoelectrochemical secondary cell.
Claims20
A method of storing hydrogen by photochemically and/or electrochemically charging a metal hydride, the method comprising:
- a. providing a photoelectrochemical secondary cell comprising a photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode, an anode electrode, a negative electrode comprising substantially a metal hydride, and an encased electrolyte capable of being reduced to hydrogen at the negative electrode, the photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode, the anode electrode and the negative electrode, all being immersed in the electrolyte;
- b. exposing the photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode to radiation while applying zero bias voltage potential, or a bias voltage potential that is lower than the theoretical water splitting voltage of 1.48 VDC, between said photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode and said negative electrode, and/or applying a voltage potential of at least 1.48 VDC between said anode electrode and said negative electrode, thereby charging said metal hydride with hydrogen.
A method of storing hydrogen by photochemically and/or electrochemically charging a metal hydride, the method comprising:
- a. providing a photoelectrochemical secondary cell comprising a photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode, an anode electrode, a negative electrode comprising substantially a metal hydride, and an encased electrolyte capable of being reduced to hydrogen at the negative electrode, the photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode, the anode electrode and the negative electrode all being immersed in the electrolyte, and the photocatalytic anode or photoanode being electrically connected to the negative metal hydride electrode;
- b. applying a direct current voltage potential between said anode electrode and said negative electrode, whereupon hydrogen is both produced and absorbed by the metal hydride of said negative electrode, thereby charging said metal hydride with hydrogen.
An apparatus for photochemically and/or electrochemically storing hydrogen in a metal hydride, the apparatus comprising:
- a. a photoelectrochemical secondary cell comprising a photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode, an anode electrode, a negative electrode comprising metal hydride affixed to an electrically conducting substrate, and an encased electrolyte capable of being reduced to hydrogen at the metal hydride negative electrode, said photocatalytic anode or photoanode being electrically connected to said metal hydride negative electrode, and said photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode, said anode electrode and said negative electrode all being immersed in the electrolyte;
- b. said photocatalytic anode or photoanode electrode and negative electrode further being electrically connected to the negative terminal of a direct current electrical power supply, and said anode electrode being electrically connected to the positive terminal of a direct current electrical power supply, and said anode electrode being electrically connected to the positive terminal of the direct current electrical power supply.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.