PHOTOCHEMICAL CONVERSION AND STORAGE OF SOLAR ENERGY.

Abstract

There are two general approaches to photochemical conversion - one based on photochemical reactions and one involving a combination of photochemical and electrochemical processes in an electrolytic cell. Photochemical reactions fall into three main categories: organic photoreactions, photochemical decomposition of water and photoredox reactions. There are three main categories of of photoelectrochemical cells - namely, photogalvanic cells, photoelectric cells, and regenerative photoelectrochemical cells. The author evaluates these reactions and cells from the standpoint of energy conversion efficiency and the possibility of energy storage.