(English version) Prof. Hyung-tak Seo (Ajou University) and his research team (1 author: Ilhan Yoo Ph.D., Collaborative Research: Prof. Shankara S. Kalanur) developed nanostructured solar water splitting hydrogen generation photoelectrode with up to 97% photo conversion efficiency. This research was published in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental on March 12th.
(Photo)electrochemical water splitting technology using electricity or solar energy is recently actively proceeding for hydrogen evolution methode. The key to this technology is the use of charge generated when solar light is incident on the semiconductor photoelectrode to decompose water to produce clean hydrogen without carbon dioxide emissions. However, very low production efficiency compared to existing fossil fuel reforming methods has been recognized as a limit.
Using a tandem structure with three different types of nanostructures and thin films, research team has developed an integrated photocatalytic electrode in which a single electrode reacts directly to light and achieved a photo conversion efficiency of 97% of incident solar light.
In the previous research, there have been concentrated researches on materials that absorb sunlight to generate photo carrier better, but research team applied nickel oxide thin film with nanometer scale, which strongly promotes charge separation with transparent. It is confirmed that the photo conversion efficiency can be increased by 40% or more.
The developed photoelectrodes have generated the highest efficiency of hydrogen evolution in water by separating the generated carriers by light into the cathode and anode electrodes without loss.
“By applying a low-cost nickel oxide charge separation barrier to high efficiency nanostructured photoelectrodes, we achieved hydrogen production with the highest level of photo conversion efficiency, and we will further enhance long-term photochemical reaction stability for commericalize.” says Prof. Seo.
