Granted Patent B2

US 9,490,658 · App. 13/315,489 · Granted Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a charge storage component; and

an energy harvesting component;

wherein the charge storage component and the energy harvesting component are integrated via a common electrode;

wherein the energy harvesting component comprises a nanocrystalline semiconductor; and

wherein the nanocrystalline semiconductor comprises TiO 2 nanostructures and dye; and

wherein the TiO 2 nanostructures comprise brush nanostructured TiO 2 on conducting carbon fibres.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the common electrode forms a separator between the charge storage component and the energy harvesting component and wherein the common electrode operates as an electrode of the charge storage component and as an electrode of the energy harvesting component.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the common electrode comprises a material selected from the group comprising: lithium metal and conducting nonocarbon.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the charge storage component is selected from the group comprising: an electrochemical energy storage component and a super-capacitor.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the charge storage component is a lithium-ion battery and the common electrode is configured to operate as an anode of the lithium-ion battery.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the energy harvesting component is a solar cell.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting component is a dye sensitized solar cell.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the dye sensitized solar cell is based upon a TiO 2 and iodide system.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the energy harvesting component comprises:

a transparent electrode;

the common electrode;

and an electrolyte between the nanocrystalline semiconductor and the common electrode.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the electrolyte comprises iodide cations.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the transparent electrode comprises a coated flexible substrate and the energy harvesting component is flexible.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the charge storage component comprises the common electrode, an electrolyte comprising lithium anions and an electrode comprising a lithium oxide wherein the charge storage component is flexible.

13. A method of manufacturing an apparatus comprising:

forming a charge storage component on a first side of a common electrode; and

forming an energy harvesting component on a second side of a common electrode, opposing the first side, wherein the energy harvesting component comprises a nanocrystalline semiconductor; and

wherein the nanocrystalline semiconductor comprises TiO 2 nanostructures and dye; and

wherein the TiO 2 nanostructures comprise brush nanostructured TiO 2 on conducting carbon fibres.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 , comprising: forming an energy harvesting component on a second side of the common electrode by positioning a transparent electrode comprising nanocrystalline semiconductor layer such that the semiconductor layer faces the second side of the common electrode.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14 , comprising: applying an electrolyte to the second side of the common electrode before positioning the transparent electrode, such that when the transparent electrode is positioned the electrolyte and the semiconductor contact.

16. A method as claimed in claim 14 , wherein the energy harvesting component is formed by roll to roll manufacturing, wherein a roll of transparent electrode comprising nanocrystalline semiconductor layer is combined with a roll of the common electrode.

17. A method as claimed in claim 13 , comprising: forming a charge storage component on the first side of the common electrode by positioning an outer electrode facing the first side of the common electrode with an intervening electrolyte between the outer electrode and the common electrode.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the electrolyte of the charge storage component comprises lithium anions and the outer electrode of the charge storage component comprises a lithium oxide.

Assignments (8)