Chinese researchers achieve new record in solar hydrogen efficiency
Chinese researchers have achieved a new milestone in solar hydrogen efficiency, establishing a record in this field.
TroibNews 
Chinese researchers have set a new record in solar hydrogen production, achieving an efficiency of 10.36 percent sustained for over a month. This milestone could significantly advance large-scale green hydrogen production, as reported by Science and Technology Daily.
A study published in Nature Communications details how a team from the University of Science and Technology of China and Wuhan University designed an innovative photoelectrode structure utilizing silicon-based gallium nitride nanowires to reach this achievement.
This photoelectrode structure operates efficiently in a half-cell configuration, providing stable hydrogen production for more than 800 hours at elevated current densities. Importantly, it also extends the operational lifespan of the photoelectrode from hours to months, addressing the efficiency and reliability issues that have long impeded traditional photoelectric hydrogen production devices.
Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a process that converts sunlight and water directly into green hydrogen, making it a critical focus in clean energy research. However, conventional photoelectrode materials often suffer from corrosion and a decline in catalytic activity, which limits their longevity.
To tackle these challenges, the research team developed their structure and incorporated gold nanoparticles as a co-catalyst. This innovative solution not only boosts the catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution but also prevents the gold nanoparticles from detaching during the reaction process, thereby mitigating the loss of catalytic efficiency.
The study indicates that this new structure, which is amenable to mass production, could be adapted for use in other compound semiconductor systems and catalytic reactions. This advancement is anticipated to significantly impact energy conversion and support the global transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
A study published in Nature Communications details how a team from the University of Science and Technology of China and Wuhan University designed an innovative photoelectrode structure utilizing silicon-based gallium nitride nanowires to reach this achievement.
This photoelectrode structure operates efficiently in a half-cell configuration, providing stable hydrogen production for more than 800 hours at elevated current densities. Importantly, it also extends the operational lifespan of the photoelectrode from hours to months, addressing the efficiency and reliability issues that have long impeded traditional photoelectric hydrogen production devices.
Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a process that converts sunlight and water directly into green hydrogen, making it a critical focus in clean energy research. However, conventional photoelectrode materials often suffer from corrosion and a decline in catalytic activity, which limits their longevity.
To tackle these challenges, the research team developed their structure and incorporated gold nanoparticles as a co-catalyst. This innovative solution not only boosts the catalytic activity for hydrogen evolution but also prevents the gold nanoparticles from detaching during the reaction process, thereby mitigating the loss of catalytic efficiency.
The study indicates that this new structure, which is amenable to mass production, could be adapted for use in other compound semiconductor systems and catalytic reactions. This advancement is anticipated to significantly impact energy conversion and support the global transition to sustainable energy solutions.
Jessica Kline contributed to this report for TROIB News
