Researchers develop cleaner methods for green hydrogen production

Scientists are advancing new methods to produce green hydrogen by mimicking natural processes and improving manufacturing safety.

Researchers at South Korea’s Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology and Kookmin University have developed a water-based coating method to create sunlight-powered hydrogen equipment. This process uses a low voltage of four volts to deposit light-absorbing particles onto an electrode, significantly reducing the high voltage and hazardous organic solvents required by previous methods. By combining titanium dioxide with silver-bismuth-sulfide crystals, the team created an electrode that utilizes a broader range of light to drive hydrogen production.

In a separate effort, the EU-funded FreeHydroCells project, led by University College Cork in Ireland, has developed a multicell system designed to split water into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight. This integrated approach aims to combine electricity generation and water splitting into a single, reusable, carbon-free system, potentially offering a more efficient and cost-effective way to produce and store renewable energy locally.