US 11,912,589 B2
Optically thin light-absorbers for increasing photochemical energy-conversion efficiencies
Shane Ardo, Irvine, CA (US); Samuel Thomas Keene, Irvine, CA (US); and Gabriel S. Phun, Irvine, CA (US)
Assigned to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed by THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, Oakland, CA (US)
Filed on Nov. 4, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/673,680.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/755,410, filed on Nov. 2, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2020/0140293 A1, May 7, 2020
Int. Cl. C02F 1/46 (2023.01); C25B 1/04 (2021.01); C02F 1/461 (2023.01); C25B 1/55 (2021.01); C25B 9/50 (2021.01)
CPC C02F 1/4604 (2013.01) [C02F 1/46104 (2013.01); C25B 1/04 (2013.01); C25B 1/55 (2021.01); C25B 9/50 (2021.01); C02F 2305/10 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
11. A light-driven system (100) for driving water electrolysis, comprising a plurality of light-absorbing units (110) configured such that light goes through one light-absorbing unit to get to the next light-absorbing unit, wherein a non-electrically conductive phase is disposed between adjacent light-absorbing units, wherein each light-absorbing unit (110) operates independently and in parallel to net drive water electrolysis, wherein the light-absorbing units (110) have near-optimal bandgaps that are about 0.25 eV to about 2.0 eV larger than a free energy required to drive water electrolysis.