Photovoltaic Hydrogen Generation Solar Energy

What is a photovoltaic hydrogen generator?

The simplest and most elegant photovoltaic hydrogen generator consists of a solar cell and an electrochemical device, an electrolyser, which is liberating hydrogen from liquid water as indicated in Fig. 2.

Can solar hydrogen production be scaled?

Our findings demonstrate that scaling of solar hydrogen production via photocatalytic overall water splitting to a size of 100 m 2 —by far the largest solar hydrogen production unit yet reported to our knowledge—is feasible, with further scaling in principle possible without efficiency degradation.

Can solar energy make hydrogen?

One of the most sustainable ways to make hydrogen is to use solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. This can be done using photoelectrochemical (PEC) systems that combine a photovoltaic device and an electrolyzer device. The PV device absorbs sunlight and generates electricity that drives the electrolytic splitting of water.

Is photovoltaic hydrogen a future technology?

Photovoltaic hydrogen generation is expected to have a bright future but development from its present negligible contribution to a large-scale technology will require addressing a series of scientific and technological challenges aimed at making it more cost efficient as soon as possible. 1. Introduction

Why is photovoltaic hydrogen technology important?

It is of significant interest for photovoltaic hydrogen technology that a major research effort is oriented towards kinetically determined solar cells. They promise cheaper and easier production techniques and thus a faster track towards a photovoltaic hydrogen economy. 5. Photovoltaics and accompanying technology

Can photovoltaic hydrogen be used as a fuel?

The greatest promise of photovoltaic hydrogen generation arises from the experimentally demonstrated fact that it allows a much higher efficiency for chemical fuel production than biomass technologies.