Sep
19
Quantum Technology and Solar Power To Produce Hydrogen
September 19, 2017 | 7 Comments
Lancaster University physicists are developing methods of creating renewable fuel from water using quantum technology. Fundamental problems remain before this can be adopted commercially due to inefficiency, but a new study demonstrates that the novel use of nanostructures could increase the maximum photovoltage generated in a photoelectrochemical cell, increasing the productivity of splitting water molecules.
Renewable hydrogen can already be produced by photoelectrolysis where solar power is used to split water molecules. Despite significant research effort over the past four decades, fundamental problems remain before this process can be adopted commercially due to inefficiency and lack of cost-effectiveness.
The Lancaster study, which formed part of the PhD research of Dr. Sam Harrison, has been published in Nature’s Scientific Reports. The study provides the basis for further experimental work into the solar production of hydrogen as a renewable fuel.
The study demonstrates that the novel use of nanostructures could increase the maximum photovoltage generated in a photoelectrochemical cell, increasing the productivity of splitting water molecules.
Dr. Manus Hayne said, “To the authors’ best knowledge, this system has never been investigated either theoretically or experimentally, and there is huge scope for further work to expand upon the results presented here.”
For all the alternative energy effort already expended, fossil fuels account for almost 90% of energy consumption in 2015, with absolute demand still increasing due to a growing global population and increasing industrialization.
Dr. Hayne explained, “Fossil-fuel combustion releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing global climate change, and there is only a finite amount of them available for extraction. We clearly need to transition to a renewable and low-greenhouse-gas energy infrastructure, and renewable hydrogen is expected to play an important role.”
Photovoltaic solar cells are currently used to convert sunlight directly into electricity but solar hydrogen has the advantage that it can stored, so it can be used as and when needed or used to build synthetic fuels that store much easier or hold more energy.
Hydrogen is also very flexible, making it highly advantageous for remote communities. It can be converted to electricity in a fuel cell, or burned in a boiler or cooker just like natural gas. It can even be used to fuel aircraft.
Hydrogen is a major component of fuels. It makes hydrocarbons liquid and gaseous. Its fundamental and any way to get H2 for processing cheaply in big volume is going to be welcome. Go Lancaster U!!!
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A fuel cell fuel led by this product could be used as a back up to intermittent renewable energy for a sustainable renewable solution.
I have never heard that quantum technology and solar power can produce hydrogen.
Such topics are worth buying and paying attention to. I hope great progress can be made in science and technology. This is conducive to a better life for mankind.
Utilizing quantum technology and solar power to produce renewable energy is a better method, and it can also save much traditional fuel. and reduce pollution.
It is amazing to see that there are technology that can create renewable fuel from water using quantum technology.Hope it can be applied widely in the future.
This is a great scientific research.And l like this article very much.
I disagree. Hyper Solar is very near commercializing H2 production from any dirty water utilizing a floating chip sized solar cell nano-catalyst and sunlight. Their website is: http://www.hypersolar.com