Photosensitive cell for the decomposition of water
AssigneeCentre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
InventorsHenri Van Damme, Jose J. Fripiat, Hubert Nijs, Philippe Marceau, Obrecht Francois
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a photosensitive cell for the decomposition of water of the type formed by an aqueous medium containing a photosensitizer positively charged both in the reduced state and in the oxidized state, an acceptor, an oxygen forming catalyst and a hydrogen forming catalyst. The cell according to the invention is characterized in that each of the two catalysts is fixed to a different support and in that the support of the oxygen forming catalyst is formed by a first, negative charge carrying colloid while the support of the hydrogen forming catalyst is formed by a second, positive charge carrying colloid.
Claims11
A photosensitive cell for the decomposition of water, comprising an aqueous medium containing a photosensitizer positively charged both in the reduced state and in the oxidised state, an acceptor, an oxygen-forming catalyst, a first support to which said oxygen-forming catalyst fixed and formed by a first, negative-charge-carrying colloid of large-surface tectosilicates and phyllosilicates, which as a result of isomorphic substitutions in the crystal lattice carry a permanent negative charge, a hydrogen-forming catalyst, and a second support to which said hydrogen-forming catalyst is fixed and formed by a second, positive-charge-carrying colloid of colloidal silica modified by a pH adjustment, below the zero charge point, hydrotalcites, or a mixed colloidal hydroxide of Al.sup.3+ and Eu.sup.3+ or In.sup.3+.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.