Solar-powered breakthrough at UNIST paves the way for green hydrogen future

Solar-powered breakthrough at UNIST paves the way for green hydrogen future

by Simon Mansfield

Sydney, Australia (SPX) Apr 04, 2024

A team from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST), led by Professors Jae Sung Lee, Ji-Wook Jang, and Sang Il Seok, in collaboration with Professor Hankwon Lim of the Graduate School of Carbon Neutrality at UNIST, has made a significant leap in photoelectrochemical water splitting technology. This development marks a vital step toward the practical use of solar energy for green hydrogen production, addressing long-standing challenges in efficiency, stability, and scalability of photoelectrodes.

Central to their success was addressing the performance limitations of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) and achieving a major expansion in the size of photoelectrodes-up to 10,000 times larger. This advance not only enhanced efficiency and durability but also made scalability to industrial levels feasible for the first time.

“Utilizing the sun’s limitless energy to split water into hydrogen represents an ideal method for generating green hydrogen,” said Professor Jae Sung Lee. By enlarging the photoelectrodes and surpassing the efficiency barriers of PSCs, the team has edged closer to bringing this technology into the commercial realm.

The research utilized perovskite as the photoelectrode material for its high efficiency and cost-effectiveness, despite its known susceptibility to ultraviolet light and moisture. A novel approach involving formamide, instead of methylammonium, as a perovskite cation, substantially increased the photoelectrodes’ resistance to ultraviolet damage. Further, the application of nickel foil sealing enhanced their water stability.

The achievement of a solar hydrogen conversion efficiency over 10% in a modular design signifies a major milestone, setting a new global standard for large-area photoelectrode efficiency and meeting the threshold for commercial viability.

Dr. Dharmesh Hansora, lead author of the study, highlighted the commercial potential, projecting the commercialization of solar-powered green hydrogen production by 2030. This optimism is underpinned by the successful demonstration of high efficiency across large areas and a focus on real-world applications.

Research Report:All-perovskite-based unassisted photoelectrochemical water splitting system for efficient, stable and scalable solar hydrogen production