photoelectrolytic cell

A cell in which radiant energy causes a net chemical conversion in the cell, e.g. so as to produce hydrogen as a useful fuel. These cells can be classified as photosynthetic or photocatalytic. In the former case, radiant energy provides a Gibbs energy to drive a reaction such as , and electrical or thermal energy may be later recovered by allowing the reverse, spontaneous reaction to proceed. In a photocatalytic cell the photon absorption promotes a reaction with so there is no net storage of chemical energy, but the radiant energy speeds up a slow reaction. PAC, 1991, 63, 569 (Terminology in semiconductor electrochemistry and photoelectrochemical energy conversion (Recommendations 1991)) on page 596