by Ilan Gattegno, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Technion researchers announce they have achieved perfect photon-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency, raising hopes for viable alternative energy source • Results "shatter the previous benchmarks for all systems" and have real potential, says scientist.
The Technion-Israel
Institute of Technology
|
Photo credit: Roni Shutzer  |
Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute
of Technology have recently made a significant breakthrough in
alternative energy production, reaching perfect photon-to-hydrogen
conversion efficiency.
Splitting water for energy production is a
two-step process, divided into reduction and oxidation. In a paper
published in the scientific journal Nano Letters, researchers Lilac
Amirav, Philip Kalisman, and Yifat Nakibli explained they were able to
perform the reduction phase with 100% efficiency, a sharp increase from
the previous record of 60% for hydrogen production with visible light.
Future research should focus on the oxidation phase, to realize
practical overall water splitting, they said.
"Our work shows that it is possible to obtain
perfect, 100% photon-to-hydrogen production efficiency, under visible
light illumination, for the photocatalytic water splitting reduction
half-reaction. These results shatter the previous benchmarks for all
systems, and leave little to no room for improvement for this particular
half-reaction. With a stable system and a turnover frequency of 360,000
moles of hydrogen per hour per mole of catalyst, the potential here is
real," Amirav said in the paper.
Speaking with the research and technology
website Phys.org, she said, "I strongly believe that the search for
clean and renewable energy sources is crucial. With the looming energy
crisis on one hand, and environmental aspects, mainly global warming, on
the other, I think this is our duty to try and amend the problem for
the next generation."
A press release posted on the Technion's
website said the breakthrough was the result of a lengthy process
resulting in the development of advanced artificial materials that can
be used as catalysts for the conversion process.
"We hope to implement our design rules,
experience and accumulated insights for the construction of a system
capable of overall water splitting and genuine solar-to-fuel energy
conversion," said Amirav. "I believe this is an important milestone."
Hydrogen fuel is considered a promising alternative
source of energy, as it is water-derived, making it clean, efficient
and, for the most part, free of political controversies. The
photocatalytic processes used in hydrogen energy production are relevant
to other fields as well, including wastewater treatment.
Ilan Gattegno, News Agencies and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=32163
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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