SOLAR-CELL-INTEGRATED GAS PRODUCTION DEVICE

摘要

Disclosed is a solar-cell-integrated gas production device which can generate a gas utilizing an electromotive force of a solar cell and can supply an electric power to external circuits utilizing the solar cell. The solar-cell-integrated gas production device comprises: a photoelectric conversion unit which has a light-receiving surface and a back surface that is on the back side of the light-receiving surface; a first electrolysis electrode which is formed on the back surface side of the photoelectric conversion unit and is so adapted as to be immersed in an electrolytic solution; a second electrolysis electrode which is formed on the back surface side of the photoelectric conversion unit and is so adapted as to be immersed in the electrolytic solution; and a switching unit. The device is characterized in that the first electrolysis electrode and the second electrolysis electrode are so adapted as to electrically decompose the electrolytic solution by the action of an electromotive force generated upon the reception of light by the photoelectric conversion unit to generate a first gas and a second gas, respectively, and the switching unit can switch between a circuit for outputting the electromotive force generated upon the reception of light by the photoelectric conversion unit to a first external circuit and a circuit for outputting the electromotive force generated upon the reception of light by the photoelectric conversion unit to the first electrolysis electrode and the second electrolysis electrode.