Revolutionary Solar-Powered Device for Green Hydrogen Production Unveiled in Bengaluru
Key Ideas
- Scientists in Bengaluru have developed a cutting-edge device that uses solar energy to produce green hydrogen, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
- The device features a highly efficient silicon-based photoanode that splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen, demonstrating long-term stability and scalability.
- This breakthrough aligns with India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, offering the potential for sustainable hydrogen-based energy systems for homes, vehicles, and industries.
- The researchers envision further advancements in the technology to enable affordable and large-scale production of solar-to-hydrogen energy systems.
In a significant breakthrough, scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru have developed a revolutionary device that harnesses solar energy to produce green hydrogen. This innovative technology has the potential to power homes, vehicles, and industries while reducing reliance on fossil fuels. Led by Dr Ashutosh K Singh, the research team designed a state-of-the-art silicon-based photoanode using an n-i-p heterojunction architecture. The device splits water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen using only solar energy and earth-abundant materials. The device achieved an excellent surface photovoltage of 600 mV and a low onset potential of around 0.11 VRHE, showcasing high efficiency. It also demonstrated long-term stability by operating continuously for over 10 hours with only a 4% performance drop. The scalability of the device was proven with a 25 square centimetre photoanode delivering excellent solar water-splitting results. This advancement aligns with India's National Green Hydrogen Mission, aiming for carbon neutrality and energy independence. Dr Singh highlighted the smart material selection and heterostructure design that enables high performance and large-scale production. The work has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, with researchers optimistic about the technology's potential to drive sustainable hydrogen-based energy systems across various sectors.
Topics
Homes
Sustainability
Solar Energy
Technology Development
Energy Innovation
Research Breakthrough
Scientific Achievement
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