Material that produces both solar energy and hydrogen has been developed

Researchers at Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) recently announced that they have made a breakthrough in their quest to harness solar energy more efficiently. LMU researchers have delved into the complex world of nanotechnology to develop high-performance nanostructures that could revolutionize the use of solar energy. As a result, a two-dimensional supercrystal material emerged. While this solves critical problems in solar energy, it also provides an important gateway to hydrogen production.

Significant development in renewable energy

Capturing sunlight and producing energy from it is a fundamentally challenging process. First of all, sunlight comes to the earth in a “diluted” form, so the energy per area is relatively low. Conventional solar panels solve this problem by covering large surfaces. But researchers at LMU are taking a different approach. In a new publication in the journal Nature Catalysis, they have developed a two-dimensional supercrystal that not only breaks the record but also provides a potential solution to the energy dilution dilemma.

The team’s innovation lies in plasmonic nanostructures that act like miniature magnets that concentrate solar energy. The team says that they created particles in the range of 100-200 nanometers from a plasmonic metal such as gold. At this scale, visible light interacts very strongly with the gold’s electrons, causing them to oscillate resonantly. Professor Emiliano Cortés, one of the leading figures in the fields of physics and energy conversion and one of the research team, likened the process to a superlens and said: “This is a strong change for the incoming light, so that it then interacts much more strongly with the metallic nanoparticle. Our nanomaterials It does this on a molecular scale.” This results in the emergence of very high-energy electrons, thanks to the ability of nanoparticles to capture more sunlight.

Hydrogen production was achieved

To further improve this process, the researchers used a unique arrangement of gold particles to create “hot spots” where light absorption increased significantly. Platinum nanoparticles, a powerful catalyst material, were placed in these hot spots. Platinum is not a preferred material for photocatalysis because it absorbs sunlight poorly, but these hot spots can be used to increase this weak absorption and enhance chemical reactions with light energy. In the team’s research, it was observed that the reaction converted formic acid into hydrogen.

“This material holds the world record for green hydrogen production with sunlight,” the team said in a statement. With a production rate of 139 millimoles of hydrogen per hour and per gram of catalyst, this photocatalytic material is a game changer in the quest for green hydrogen production. Hydrogen production currently relies largely on fossil fuels, primarily natural gas. Combining plasmonic and catalytic metals provides a greener solution.

The patented material the team has developed not only promises more efficient hydrogen production, but also opens the door to potential applications in other reactions, such as converting CO2 into usable substances.