A CDS CATALYZED PHOTOSYNTHETIC PHOTO-ELECTROCHEMICAL CELL

[[abstract]]A photosynthetic photoelectrochemical cell has been developed ([18] Gross, Youngman and Winemiller, Photochem. Photobiol. 28, 249-256, 1978) using a semiconductor, CdS, as a photocatalyst to generate electricity directly from solar energy. The photopotential generated was the sum of two photochemical reactions; ie the photosynthetic reaction and a CdS catalyzed heterogeneous photochemical reaction. Both biological components and CdS undergo photoinduced charge separation which results in a photochemical potential for the development of electricity. Various features of this photoelectrochemical cell were under investigation. The maximum power conversion efficiency of 0.15% was obtained under light intensity of 90 W m−2. Several light-dark cycles were observed which implies that this cell can store energy in the form of chemical potential. A model mechanism of this photosynthetic photoelectrochemical cell was proposed.[[fileno]]2050111010002[[department]]生科