In India, scientists have developed a device that requires only solar energy to produce green hydrogen. This process will support goals to decarbonize industries by providing clean fuel. This clean fuel can also replace fossil fuels in vehicles.
A research team led by Dr. Ashutosh K. Singh has developed a silicon-based photoanode that upgrades how sunlight is converted into hydrogen. They used a special layered design called an n–i–p heterojunction, which has three types of materials: n-type TiO₂, intrinsic (undoped) silicon, and p-type NiO. These layers work together to separate electric charges more productively and move them faster.
In order to build this device, the team used magnetron sputtering, a modern method that accurately places the materials in thin layers. Because of this design, the photoanode absorbs more sunlight and transfers charge quickly, therefore preventing energy loss—an important factor in effective solar-to-hydrogen conversion.
According to the research team, the device attained a surface photovoltage of 600 mV and a low onset potential of around 0.11 VRHE, making it highly effective at generating hydrogen using solar energy. It also demonstrated long-term stability, operating continuously for 10 hours in harsh conditions with only a 4% performance drop, which is rare in Si-based photoelectrochemical systems. It was also able to perform at a large scale. According to Dr. Singh, with the right material combination, it can produce large-scale solar-to-hydrogen energy.
This work earned recognition in various journals, such as the Royal Society of Chemistry. Scientists believe that in the near future, this technology could power a hydrogen-based energy system—from homes to factories—with the help of solar energy.
Sources https://www.powermag.com/india-scientists-develop-hydrogen-production-method-using-only-solar-power/
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