Abstract: The invention relates to a photoelectrochemical cell 100 for light-driven production of hydrogen and oxygen, especially from water or another electrolyte based on aqueous solution, having a photoelectric layer structure 1 and an electrochemical layer structure 2 in a layer construction 40, where—the photoelectric layer structure 1 for absorption of light 3 uninfluenced by the electrolyte 10 forms a front side 41 of the layer structure 40, and—the electrochemical layer structure 2, for accommodation of the electrolyte 10, forms a reverse side 42 of the layer construction 40, and—a conductive and corrosion-inhibiting coupling layer 13 forms electrical contact between the photoelectric layer structure 1 and the electrochemical layer structure 2 in the layer construction 40, where—the electrochemical layer structure 2 has an electrode structure of a front electrode 21 and an electrode structure of a rear electrode 22, between which is arranged an ion exchange layer 61 such that an integrated layer construction 40

Abstract: The invention relates to a photoelectrochemical cell 100 for light-driven production of hydrogen and oxygen, especially from water or another electrolyte based on aqueous solution, having a photoelectric layer structure 1 and an electrochemical layer structure 2 in a layer construction 40, where—the photoelectric layer structure 1 for absorption of light 3 uninfluenced by the electrolyte 10 forms a front side 41 of the layer structure 40, and—the electrochemical layer structure 2, for accommodation of the electrolyte 10, forms a reverse side 42 of the layer construction 40, and—a conductive and corrosion-inhibiting coupling layer 13 forms electrical contact between the photoelectric layer structure 1 and the electrochemical layer structure 2 in the layer construction 40, where—the electrochemical layer structure 2 has an electrode structure of a front electrode 21 and an electrode structure of a rear electrode 22, between which is arranged an ion exchange layer 61 such that an integrated layer construction 40

Abstract: Photoactive pyrite layers, whose preparation and use represent a commercially highly interesting alternative to materials hitherto in common use. The semiconductor material chiefly used until now, e.g. for solar cells, is silicon. However, its costs of manufacture are too high to allow solar cells to be made at favorable cost. The significance of the disclosure and development of pyrite as a semiconductor material, especially for solar cells, lies in the fact that it is plentifully occurring and cheap, as well as environmentally compatible. Pyrite (iron pyrites, FeS.sub.2) can be used as a photoactive material in solar cells and in optoelectronic components. It is possible to use both naturally occurring pyrite, after a material treatment to improve the photosensitivity, as well as synthetically produced, single-crystal and polycrystalline pyrite.