Patent ID: 11939688
Assignee: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Field: Surface technology, coating (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C  Y | IPC C

Claim 0:
1. A photoelectrochemical cell, comprising:
a photoabsorbing surface; and
a plurality of three-dimensional contacts formed on the photoabsorbing surface and spaced such that a portion of the photoabsorbing surface is unoccluded thereby, and where at least one of the plurality of three-dimensional contacts includes at least one surface that redirects radiation incident to the at least one surface of the three-dimensional contact onto the unoccluded portion of the photoabsorbing surface;
wherein the plurality of three-dimensional contacts comprises a metal catalyst material;
wherein each of the plurality of three-dimensional contacts comprises a triangular bar and each triangular bar has a base parallel to the photoabsorbing surface and each base has a width greater than a wavelength of an incoming light;
wherein a first side and a second side of the triangular bar protrude outward from the photoabsorbing surface and converge at a line; and
wherein any of a cross-section of each triangular bar of that is perpendicular to the base and intercepts the first and second sides of the triangular bar has a triangular shape.