Scientists have developed a new crystal material that uses sunlight to split water and produce clean hydrogen gas without the need for expensive metals.
elchi reports that chemical engineers at Oregon State University in the US have developed a new class of photocatalytic materials that produce clean hydrogen gas by splitting water directly using sunlight, eliminating the need for expensive metal catalysts.
The research focused on a crystal structure called “BVR-19” with a metal-organic framework structure. Unlike traditional hydrogen production methods, it has been determined that this material, which forms spontaneously in aqueous solutions at room temperature without requiring additional energy, significantly accelerates the reaction when exposed to sunlight.
“Sulfur bonds directly mobilize electrons”
Investigating the working principle of the system, researchers found that unusual sulfur-sulfur chemical bonds within the material temporarily break when exposed to light. It was found that the resulting highly reactive sulfur components directly provide the electron flow necessary for the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen. By transferring the reaction load to the organic sulfur blocks within the material instead of precious metal atoms like platinum or palladium, it has been demonstrated that the system produces hydrogen with high efficiency without the need for additional noble metal catalysts.
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New material developed for hydrogen production from sunlight and water
