Catalytic materials, photoanodes, and photoelectrochemical cells for water electrolysis and other, electrochemical techniques

Abstract

Catalytic materials, photoanodes, and systems for electrolysis and/or formation of water are provided which can be used for energy storage, particularly in the area of solar energy conversion, and/or production of oxygen and/or hydrogen. Compositions and methods for forming photoanodes and other devices are also provided.

1 . A method for forming a photoanode for the catalytic production of oxygen from water, comprising:
 providing a solution comprising metal ionic species and anionic species;   providing a photoactive electrode comprising a photoactive composition and a photosensitizing agent; and   causing the metal ionic species and the anionic species to form a catalytic material associated with the photoactive electrode by application of a voltage to the photoactive electrode.   
   
   
       2 . A method for producing oxygen from water, comprising the steps of:
 providing a photoelectrochemical cell comprising:
 a photoactive electrode comprising a photoactive composition and a photosensitizing agent; 
 an electrolyte; and 
 a catalytic material integrally connected to the photosensitizing agent, the catalytic material comprising metal ionic species and anionic species, and wherein the catalytic material does not consist essentially of a metal oxide or metal hydroxide; and 
   illuminating the photoelectrochemical cell with light to thereby produce oxygen gas from water.   
   
   
       3 - 9 . (canceled) 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage is applied to the photoactive electrode by a power source. 
   
   
       11 . (canceled) 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage is applied to the photoactive electrode by exposing the photoactive electrode to electromagnetic radiation. 
   
   
       13 - 33 . (canceled) 
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the anionic species comprises phosphorus. 
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ionic species comprises cobalt ions. 
   
   
       36 . (canceled) 
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the metal ionic species with an oxidation state of (n+x) and the anionic species define a substantially non-crystalline composition and have a K sp  value which is less, by a factor of at least 10 3 , than the K sp  value of a composition comprising the metal ionic species with an oxidation state of (n) and the anionic species. 
   
   
       38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the photoelectrochemical cell further comprises a second electrode. 
   
   
       40 - 41 . (canceled) 
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the second electrode is a photoactive electrode. 
   
   
       43 - 49 . (canceled) 
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the water contains at least one impurity 
   
   
       51 - 89 . (canceled) 
   
   
       90 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizing agent comprises a metal complex dye. 
   
   
       91 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the photosensitizing agent comprises an organic dye. 
   
   
       92 - 107 . (canceled) 
   
   
       108 . A photoanode for the catalytic production of oxygen from water, comprising:
 a photoactive electrode comprising a photosensitizing agent and a photoactive composition; and   a catalytic material comprising metal ionic species and anionic species, wherein the catalytic material is formed by application of a voltage to a photoactive electrode.   
   
   
       109 . The photoanode of  claim 108 , wherein the metal ionic species comprises cobalt ions. 
   
   
       110 . The photoanode of  claim 108 , wherein the anionic species comprises phosphorus. 
   
   
       111 - 162 . (canceled) 
   
   
       163 . The photoanode of  claim 108 , wherein the metal ionic species comprise at least a first and a second type of metal ionic species. 
   
   
       164 - 169 . (canceled) 
   
   
       170 . The photoanode of  claim 108 , wherein the photosensitizing agent comprises a metal complex dye. 
   
   
       171 . The photoanode of  claim 108 , wherein the photosensitizing agent comprises an organic dye. 
   
   
       172 - 234 . (canceled) 
   
   
       235 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the anionic species comprises phosphorus. 
   
   
       236 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the metal ionic species comprises cobalt ions.