Photoelectrochemical cell

摘要

A photoelectrochemical cell (1) includes an electrolyte container (3) containing an ionic liquid (2), and a partitioning membrane (4) dividing an interior of the electrolyte container (3) into two being a CO2 capturing chamber (7) and a CO2 releasing chamber (8), having side walls opposing each other, with the partitioning membrane (4) in between, either as a carbon electrode (5) and the other as a photoelectrode (6). A redox mediator (B) has different bonding forces to carbon dioxide, as it appears as an oxidant Box and a reductant Bred, of which that one which has a greater bonding force serves as an intermediary chemical species carrying carbon dioxide to one of the paired electrodes (5, 6). Over the CO2 releasing chamber (10), an upper wall portion (10) is formed, which has a CO2 take-out port (10A) formed therein, for making use of oxidation and reduction of the redox mediator to achieve separation and concentration of carbon dioxide, converting photo energy of sunlight into electric power.

主权项

1. A photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
a container containing electrolyte in which a redox mediator is contained; at least one pair of electrodes mutually spaced to be in contact with the electrolyte, with at least one electrode thereof being an optical electrode having a photocatalyst configured for light irradiation thereon to produce an excited electron, and the optical electrode being adapted to convert light energy to electric power; an introducing portion, provided in the container, for introducing carbon dioxide directly into the electrolyte contained in the container; and a take-out port, provided in the container, for directly taking out carbon dioxide outside from the electrolyte contained in the container, wherein the redox mediator is a mediation chemical species such that an oxidant and a reductant thereof exhibit different bonding forces to carbon dioxide, the one exhibiting the higher bonding force carrying carbon dioxide, which is introduced from the introducing portion into the electrolyte, to the optical electrode, thereby allowing carbon dioxide carried to the optical electrode from an end of the other electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes to be taken out outside from the take-out port.