Abstract: An electro-optical display device having a housing with wall means including one transparent wall and at least one other wall. Counter electrodes are positioned on the transparent wall and display electrodes are positioned on the other wall with both electrodes in electrically conductive relationship with an electrolyte. Circuit means are connected to the display and counter electrodes to apply different predetermined control potentials between them. The display electrodes are covered with a thin electrically conductive polymer film that is characterized according to the invention by having embedded in it pigment molecules as counter ions. The display device is operable to be switched to a plurality of different visual color states at an exceptionally rapid switching rate while each of the color states is characterized by possessing good color intensity and definition.

Abstract: A method of synthesizing electrically conductive polymers from a solvent-free solid polymer electrolyte wherein an assembly of a substrate having an electrode thereon, a thin coating of solid electrolyte including a solution of PEO complexed with an alkali salt, and a thin transparent noble metal electrode are disposed in an evacuated chamber into which a selected monomer vapor is introduced while an electric potential is applied across the solid electrolyte to hold the thin transparent electrode at a positive potential relative to the electrode on the substrate, whereby a highly conductive polymer film is grown on the transparent electrode between it and the solid electrolyte.

Abstract: There is disclosed a polymer blend of a highly conductive polymer and a solid polymer electrolyte that is designed to achieve better charge transfer across the conductive film/polymer electrolyte interface of the electrochemical photovoltaic cell. The highly conductive polymer is preferably polypyrrole or poly-N-p-nitrophenylpyrrole and the solid polymer electrolyte is preferably polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide.

Abstract: Improved electrochemical photovoltaic cells and electrodes for use therein, particularly electrodes employing amorphous silicon or polyacetylene coating are produced by a process which includes filling pinholes or porous openings in the coatings by electrochemical oxidation of selected monomers to deposit insulating polymer in the openings.

Abstract: A photoelectric device is disclosed which comprises first and second layers of semiconductive material, each of a different bandgap, with a layer of dry solid polymer electrolyte disposed between the two semiconductor layers. A layer of a polymer blend of a highly conductive polymer and a solid polymer electrolyte is further interposed between the dry solid polymer electrolyte and the first semiconductor layer. A method of manufacturing such devices is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for coating a planar surface (5) of a semiconductor or insulator (3) with a polymer film according to a given pattern. The substrate to be coated constitutes one electrode (3) in an electrolytic cell whose electrolyte (2) contains monomers of said polymer. The substrate and the monomers are selected such that electrolytic oxidation or reduction occurs when a voltage is applied across the cell electrodes (3, 4) simultaneous with an area of the surface (5) to be coated being irradiated with radiation having energy larger than the energy gap between the valence band and conduction band of said substrate. The irradiation is performed with a sharply defined beam (10) simultaneous with a relative motion of said beam and the substrate surface (5) thereby making the polymer film of the desired pattern. The polymer, for example, is polypyrrole formed by electro-oxidation of a pyrrole monomer in an electrolytic solution containing pyrrole monomer and tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in acetonitrile.

Abstract: A double photoelectrochemical cell for converting solar energy directly to electricity. The device in one embodiment has two semiconductors which are separated from each other by a dry solid polymer electrolyte. The two semiconductors have a different band gap; for example, one is n-type CdS and the other is p-type CdTe. The polymer electrolyte, for example, is a thin film polyethylene oxide acting as a polymer matrix containing a polysulfide redox couple, for example, Na.sub.2 S.sub.4. The polymer electrolyte is transparent, insulating and capable of transporting ions. At least one of the semiconductors is semi-transparent. The short wavelengths of light are absorbed by the semi-transparent wide band gap semiconductor, and the long wavelengths pass therethrough, and through the polymer film electrolyte, and are absorbed by the narrow band gap semiconductor. The output of the cell is double; one from each semiconductor, i.e., they are series-connected. Output voltage, for example, is about 0.625 volts.

Abstract: A double photoelectrochemical cell for converting solar energy directly to electricity. The device in one embodiment has two semiconductors which are separated from each other by a polymer electrolyte. The two semiconductors have a different band gap; for example, one is n-type CdS and the other is p-type CdTe. The polymer electrolyte, for example, is a thin film polyethylene oxide acting as a polymer matrix containing a polysulfide redox couple, for example, Na.sub.2 S.sub.4. The polymer electrolyte is transparent, insulating, and capable of transporting ions. At least one of the semiconductors is semi-transparent. The short wavelengths of light are absorbed by the semi-transparent wide band gap semiconductor, and the long wavelengths pass therethrough, and through the polymer film electrolyte, and are absorbed by the narrow band gap semiconductor. The output of the cell is double; one from each semiconductor, i.e. they are series-connected. Output voltage, for example, is about 0.625 volts.

Abstract: A low-cost dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cell comprised of a substrate of semiconductor with an ohmic contact on one face, a sensitizing dye adsorbed onto the opposite face of the semiconductor, a transparent thin-film layer of a reducing agent over the dye, and a thin-film layer of metal over the reducing agent. The ohmic contact and metal layer constitute electrodes for connection to an external circuit and one or the other or both are made transparent to permit light to penetrate to the dye and be absorbed therein for generating electric current.

Abstract: A low-cost dye-sensitized Schottky barrier solar cell comprised of a substrate of semiconductor with an ohmic contact on one face, a sensitizing dye adsorbed onto the opposite face of the semiconductor, a transparent thin-film layer of a reducing agent over the dye, and a thin-film layer of metal over the reducing agent. The ohmic contact and metal layer constitute electrodes for connection to an external circuit and one or the other or both are made transparent to permit light to penetrate to the dye and be absorbed therein for generating electric current.