Methods for manufacturing photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructures

A method of manufacturing a photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructure, comprising:

• forming or providing a protective membrane comprising an electrically insulating sheet and a plurality of cavities in the electrically insulating sheet;
• forming or providing an electrically conductive metal layer on one side of the electrically insulating sheet;
• depositing by electrodeposition, vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or atomic layer vapor deposition an electrocatalyst cathode layer in the plurality of cavities;
• depositing by electrodeposition, vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or atomic layer vapor deposition one or more layers of light-absorbing semiconductor material in the plurality of cavities;
• depositing by electrodeposition, vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, or atomic layer vapor deposition an electrocatalyst anode layer in the plurality of cavities;
• and
• removing the electrically conductive metal layer from the electrically insulating sheet,
• wherein the plurality of nanosized cavities are spaced so as to form a plurality of independent light absorbing units, and
• wherein the electrocatalyst anode layer is coupled to the independent light absorbing units and is isolated from the electrocatalyst cathode layer so that each independent light absorbing unit is autonomous from other light absorbing units.

A method of manufacturing a photoelectrosynthetically active heterostructure, comprising:

• forming or providing a protective membrane comprising anodized aluminum oxide and a plurality of nanosized pores in the protective membrane;
• forming or providing an electrically conductive metal layer on one side of the protective membrane;
• electrodepositing an electrocatalyst cathode material in the plurality of nanosized pores;
• electrodepositing one or more layers of light-absorbing semiconductor material in the plurality of nanosized pores;
• electrodepositing an electrocatalyst anode material in the plurality of nanosized pores;
• and
• removing the electrically conductive metal layer from the protective membrane,
• wherein the plurality of nanosized pores are arranged so as to provide a plurality of independent light absorbing units, and
• wherein the electrocatalyst anode material is coupled to the independent light absorbing units and is isolated from the electrocatalyst cathode material so that each independent light absorbing unit is autonomous from other light absorbing units.