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Abstract

A monolithic catalyst system for the cleavage of water into hydrogen and oxygen with the aid of light comprises a first photoactive material capable by itself or together with one or more of an auxiliary material and an auxiliary catalyst of generating oxygen and protons from water, when irradiated with light having a wavelength ≧420 nm of generating oxygen and protons from water, and a second photoactive material selected from gallium arsenide, copper indium disulphide/selenide, copper indium gallium disulphide/selenide and cadmium sulphide/selenide/telluride and having a water resistant coating transparent to visible light capable of the reducing protons in water to hydrogen, when irradiated with visible light. The first photoactive material and the second photoactive material are supported on at least one substrate and are in electrical contact, particularly in direct electrical contact, exclusively via one or more electron-conducting materials. The first photoactive material is not silicon, a III-V semiconductor or II-VI semiconductor or II-VI semiconductor or similar semiconductor having divalent or trivalent cations and anions of the groups Va and VIa of the periodic table of elements or semiconductor which is comprised of elements of the groups Ib (copper group), IIa, and VI or another inorganic photoconductor which is used in photovoltaic. Also disclosed is a process for cleaving water into hydrogen and oxygen with the aid of light using the catalyst system.

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First Claim