| abstract |
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for effectively utilizing nitrogen-containing compounds such as ammonia by converting them into substances such as nitrogen which are harmless and do not pollute the environment by photolysis, and furthermore, convert them into substances such as hydrogen which can be an energy source. An n-type semiconductor is charged into a liquid phase or gas phase medium containing a nitrogen-containing compound, and the dissolved nitrogen-containing compound is decomposed by irradiating the medium containing the semiconductor with light. A sensitizer that can be converted into hydrogen and absorbed, or excited by light absorption and exchange of electrons is placed in the medium, and irradiated with light to decompose the nitrogen-containing compound. Further, by inserting a semiconductor electrode and its counter electrode into a liquid phase medium such as an aqueous medium containing a nitrogen-containing compound, connecting the electrode with an external conductor, forming an external circuit, and irradiating with light, the nitrogen-containing compound It is also possible to form a photofuel cell that decomposes and generates a photocurrent. [Selection] Figure 1 |