PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS.

Abstract

The application of photoelectrochemical systems based on photoactive semiconducting electrodes to the problem of solar energy conversion and chemical synthesis is discussed. Three types of cells are described: electrochemical photovoltaic cells (wherein optical energy is converted into electrical energy); photoelectrolysis cells (wherein optical energy is converted into chemical free energy); and photocatalytic cells (wherein optical energy provides the activation energy for exoergic chemical reactions).