Patent ID: 8791354

Claim:
A photoelectrochemical cell comprising: a container containing electrolyte in which a redox mediator is contained; at least one pair of electrodes mutually spaced to be in contact with the electrolyte, with at least one electrode thereof being an optical electrode having a photocatalyst configured for light irradiation thereon to produce an excited electron, and the optical electrode being adapted to convert light energy to electric power; an introducing portion, provided in the container, for introducing carbon dioxide directly into the electrolyte contained in the container; and a take-out port, provided in the container, for directly taking out carbon dioxide outside from the electrolyte contained in the container, wherein the redox mediator is a mediation chemical species such that an oxidant and a reductant thereof exhibit different bonding forces to carbon dioxide, the one exhibiting the higher bonding force carrying carbon dioxide, which is introduced from the introducing portion into the electrolyte, to the optical electrode, thereby allowing carbon dioxide carried to the optical electrode from an end of the other electrode of the at least one pair of electrodes to be taken out outside from the take-out port.