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Double photoelectrochemical cell for conversion of solar energy to electricity
| Details |
Inventors: Skotheim, Terje;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner: Weisstuch; Aaron
Assistant Examiner:
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Plottel; Roland
A double photoelectrochemical cell for converting solar energy directly to electricity. The device in one embodiment has two semiconductors which are separated from each other by a polymer electrolyte. The two semiconductors have a different band gap; for example, one is n-type CdS and the other is p-type CdTe. The polymer electrolyte, for example, is a thin film polyethylene oxide acting as a polymer matrix containing a polysulfide redox couple, for example, Na.sub.2 S.sub.4. The polymer electrolyte is transparent, insulating, and capable of transporting ions. At least one of the semiconductors is semi-transparent. The short wavelengths of light are absorbed by the semi-transparent wide band gap semiconductor, and the long wavelengths pass therethrough, and through the polymer film electrolyte, and are absorbed by the narrow band gap semiconductor. The output of the cell is double; one from each semiconductor, i.e. they are series-connected. Output voltage, for example, is about 0.625 volts. The theoretical efficiencies in the example are about 35%, compared with about 25% for a standard photovoltaic cell, having a single junction. Also included is a method of manufacturing such a cell. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for converting electromagnetic radiation, preferably sunlight, directly to electricity.
It includes a first semiconductor having a first band gap and a second semiconductor adjacent thereto having a different band gap.
A thin dry solid film polymer electrolyte separates the first and second conductors.
The polymer electrolyte is a transparent, insulating polymer capable of transporting electric charges between the two semiconductors via the transport of ions and/or electrons due to electroactive molecules or ions dissolved in the polymer matrix or attached to the polymer backbone.
One of the semiconductors is partially transparent and absorbs part of spectrum of the electromagnetic radiation or light; and the other absorbs other parts of the spectrum.
Electrodes are connected to the semiconductors for collecting the output voltages from the semiconductors.
According to further aspects of the invention, there is provided a device having a transparent counter electrode of a thin film or grid, a thin film polymer electrolyte adjacent thereto; a semiconductor adjacent to said polymer electrolyte film and an electrode adjacent to the semiconductor.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing such cells.
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