Electrolysis via vertical multi-junction photovoltaic cell

Abstract

Systems and methods that employ a vertical multi junction (VMJ) photovoltaic cell, to provide electrolysis for water and generate hydrogen and oxygen. Electrical current generated by the VMJ flows through the electrolyte (e.g., salt water) for a decomposition thereof (e.g., hydrogen and oxygen)—whenever threshold voltage of electrolysis operation is reached (e.g., 1.6 volts for water electrolysis).

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electrolysis system comprising:
 a vertical multi junction (VMJ) solar cell that includes multiple connected cell elements fully or partially submerged in an electrolyte, each cell made from a plurality of stacked impurity doped semiconductor substrates; and   an ultrasonic transducer facilitates the collection of decomposed electrolyte.   
     
     
         22 . The electrolysis system of claim  1 , the electrolyte is salt water. 
     
     
         23 . The electrolysis system of claim  1 , the decomposed electrolyte comprising hydrogen and oxygen. 
     
     
         24 . The electrolysis system of claim  1 , further comprising a heat regulating assembly. 
     
     
         25 . The electrolysis system of claim  4 , the heat regulating assembly comprising a cooling medium that is separate from the electrolyte. 
     
     
         26 . The electrolysis system of claim  1 , further comprising a collection mechanism for the decomposed electrolyte. 
     
     
         27 . The electrolysis system of claim  1 , further comprising the VMJ solar cell having a threshold voltage, the threshold voltage required to create the current. 
     
     
         28 . The electrolysis system of claim  7 , the threshold voltage is about 1.6 volts. 
     
     
         29 . The electrolysis system of claim  1 , the VMJ cell has a textured surface. 
     
     
         30 . The electrolysis system of claim  1 , the electrolyte containing catalyst materials to increase electrolysis efficiency. 
     
     
         31 . A method of electrolyzing an electrolyte comprising:
 connecting multiple cell elements to form a VMJ solar cell;   submerging, partially or totally, the VMJ solar cell in an electrolyte;   receiving incident light by the VMJ solar cell, the VMJ solar cell creating a current in the electrolyte from the incident light;   decomposing the electrolyte from the current; and   facilitating collecting of material that results from decomposing the electrolyte with an ultrasonic transducer.   
     
     
         32 . The method of claim  11 , further comprising cooling the VMJ solar cell by a heat regulating assembly. 
     
     
         33 . The method of claim  12 , further comprising using an independent cooling medium separate from the electrolyte to cool the VMJ solar cell. 
     
     
         34 . The method of claim  11 , further comprising utilizing catalysts in the electrolyte to increase efficiency of decomposing the electrolyte. 
     
     
         35 . The method of claim  11 , the decomposed electrolyte comprising hydrogen and oxygen. 
     
     
         36 . The method of claim  11 , further comprising collecting the decomposed electrolyte in a collection mechanism. 
     
     
         37 . The method of claim  11 , further comprising texturing a surface of the VMJ solar cell. 
     
     
         38 . The method of claim  11 , further comprising increasing mechanical strength of the VMJ solar cell via buffer zones. 
     
     
         39 . An electrolysis system comprising:
 means for decomposing an electrolyte via incident light by inducing a current in the electrolyte, wherein the current is created by a multitude of connected cell elements; and   means for collecting the decomposed electrolyte by utilizing an ultrasonic transducer.