| US 7,481,914 B2 | ||
| Photoelectrolysis cells, and related devices and processes | ||
| Thomas Francis McNulty, Ballston Lake, N.Y. (US); and Anant Achyut Setlur, Niskayuna, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Assigned to General Electric Company, Niskayuna, N.Y. (US) | ||
| Filed on Mar. 31, 2006, as Appl. No. 11/394,881. | ||
| Prior Publication US 2007/0227896 A1, Oct. 04, 2007 | ||
| Int. Cl. C25C 1/02 (2006.01); C25B 11/06 (2006.01) | ||
| U.S. Cl. 205—628 [204/291; 204/252; 204/266; 205/630; 205/637; 205/638] | 25 Claims |
| 20. A method for producing hydrogen in a photoelectrolysis cell which comprises a photoelectrode and a counter-electrode,
each electrode being in contact with an electrolyte; wherein the electrodes are also connected through an electrical circuit
capable of carrying an electrical load, said method comprising the steps of:
(i) exposing the photoelectrode to solar radiation, so as to initiate electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions which
result in the evolution of hydrogen; and
(ii) collecting the hydrogen; wherein the photoelectrode comprises a material having the formula
(Ln1−xMx)(Nb1−yTay)O1+xN2−x
wherein Ln is at least one lanthanide element selected from the group consisting of cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, promethium,
samarium, europium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, holmium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, lutetium, yttrium and scandium;
M is an alkaline earth metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, strontium, barium, and combinations thereof;
0≤x≤0.99; and 0≤y≤1.
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