Solar Energy News
SOLAR DAILY
Hydrogels utilize sunlight for sustainable hydrogen production
illustration only
Hydrogels utilize sunlight for sustainable hydrogen production
by Riko Seibo
Tokyo, Japan (SPX) Nov 07, 2024

Scientists have long sought to replicate how plants transform sunlight into energy, aiming to develop renewable energy alternatives through artificial photosynthesis. This process involves using sunlight to power chemical reactions that yield clean energy. Yet, engineering synthetic systems that emulate natural photosynthesis has remained an elusive goal.

Now, researchers from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) and the University of Tokyo have introduced a bioinspired hydrogel capable of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using sunlight. This innovation marks significant progress in clean energy research, with hydrogen recognized as a promising fuel source for the future. Unlike existing methods such as solar photovoltaics and electrolysis that require external energy, this hydrogel system harnesses sunlight directly for water splitting, potentially boosting efficiency and reducing costs. The findings were recently published in 'Chemical Communications'.

The team, led by Associate Professor Kosuke Okeyoshi, doctoral student Reina Hagiwara at JAIST, and Professor Ryo Yoshida at the University of Tokyo, designed hydrogels with specialized polymer networks that facilitate electron transfer, a critical component in splitting water. The hydrogels incorporate functional molecules, such as ruthenium complexes and platinum nanoparticles, which work collectively to mimic photosynthesis.

"The biggest challenge was figuring out how to arrange these molecules so they could transfer electrons smoothly," said Prof. Okeyoshi. "By using a polymer network, we were able to prevent them from clumping together, which is a common issue in synthetic photosynthesis systems."

First-author and Ph.D. student Reina Hagiwara highlighted, "What's unique here is how the molecules are organized within the hydrogel. By creating a structured environment, we've made the energy conversion process much more efficient."

A significant achievement of this research is the hydrogels' ability to prevent the aggregation of functional molecules, a longstanding problem in artificial photosynthesis systems. This improvement led to enhanced hydrogen production, surpassing the performance of previous methods.

This development holds potential for transforming clean energy production. Producing hydrogen using only water and sunlight could pave the way for a sustainable energy future, replacing fossil fuels. "Hydrogen is a fantastic energy source because it is clean and renewable. Our hydrogels offer a way to produce hydrogen using sunlight, which could help sustainably reshape energy technologies," said Prof. Okeyoshi.

While these findings are promising, the researchers acknowledge further work is needed. Scaling up hydrogel production and ensuring long-term stability are the next steps. "We have shown the potential, but now we need to refine the technology for industrial use," Prof. Okeyoshi added. "The possibilities are exciting, and we're eager to continue pushing forward."

Future efforts will also focus on enhancing the hydrogels' design to optimize energy conversion efficiency further. The team's dedication to advancing renewable energy solutions remains steadfast.

Research Report:Bioinspired hydrogels: polymeric designs towards artificial photosynthesis

Related Links
Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SOLAR DAILY
UK clean power by 2030? Achievable but challenging, says report
London (AFP) Nov 5, 2024
The UK Labour government's intention to decarbonise the country's power grid by the end of the decade is a "huge challenge" but "achievable", according to a report published on Tuesday. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's pledge is seen as crucial to Britain meeting its legal obligation of reaching net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 to combat climate change. - What has Labour promised? - Labour promised at the election in July to deliver "zero carbon electricity by 2030". It means the p ... read more

SOLAR DAILY
Bio-based fibers may have greater environmental impact than traditional plastics

Cobalt copper tandem catalysts transform CO2 into renewable ethanol

Advanced biodegradable plastics achieve unprecedented toughness and sustainability

Are bioplastics really the wonder alternative to petro plastics

SOLAR DAILY
Paradigm Shift in Science: From Big Data to Autonomous Robot Scientists

AI robot 'art' might fetch $180K through Sotheby's auction

Siemens acquires AI specialist Altair Engineering

Internet firms must face consequences, says author

SOLAR DAILY
Sweden's defence concerned by planned offshore wind power

Sweden blocks 13 offshore wind farms over defence concerns

On US coast, wind power foes embrace 'Save the Whales' argument

Renewables revolt in Sardinia, Italy's coal-fired island

SOLAR DAILY
BMW's profits plunge as China sales slump

Paris banishes through-traffic from city centre

Norway speeds ahead of EU in race for fossil-free roads

Paris to restrict traffic in centre: city hall

SOLAR DAILY
In search of high-performance materials for fusion reactors

Silk Thread Innovation Powers Smart Textile Technology

Direct Observation of Space Charge Layers Inside Fuel Cell Electrolytes

Texas A&M to train machine learning tools to design materials for fusion power plants

SOLAR DAILY
Small modular nuclear reactors may drive US energy and emissions progress

Building the materials for the next generation of nuclear reactor

Framatome expands cybersecurity capabilities with acquisition of Allentis

Niger disputes French firm's uranium move

SOLAR DAILY
China hopes for 'consistency' in US climate policy

Climate finance billions at stake at COP29

EU greenhouse gas emissions saw 'huge' drop in 2023

Trees and power lines flattened as Cyclone Dana hits India

SOLAR DAILY
How urban planners can use trees to cool entire cities

Indonesia tribe's homeland at risk after losing final appeal: NGOs

Veea Amazon and AECOM partner to build the Internet of Forests in Colombia

Autumn season science event invites volunteers to track leaf color change

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.