Patent ID: 6916576
Filing Date: 2005-07-12
Classification: H01M,Y02E,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A method for generating electricity employing a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte intervening between said positive electrode and said negative electrode, said electrolyte containing a carbohydrate, wherein a molecule capable of being excited due to absorption of light and electrochemically oxidizing and decomposing said carbohydrate, a conductor and an oxide semiconductor are provided at said negative electrode; said oxide semiconductor is formed on the surface of said conductor, said molecule attached to the surface of said oxide semiconductor, said molecule comprising a metal complex colorant, an organic colorant or a porphyrinic colorant, said metal complex colorant being a ruthenium complex colorant having Ru as a central atom and having a biquinoline group, a bipyridyl group, a phenanthroline group, a thiocyanate group or a derivative of any of these groups as a ligand, or, a ruthenium complex colorant having Pt as a central atom and having a biquinoline group, a bipyridyl group, a phenanthroline group, a thiocyanate group or a derivative of any of these groups as a ligand, said organic colorant being a 9-phenylxanthenic colorant, a merocyaninic colorant or a polymethinic colorant; with production of electromotive force occurring between said positive electrode and said negative electrode as a result of supply of carbohydrate while said molecule is irradiated with light and oxidization and decomposition of said carbohydrate by said molecule at said negative electrode.