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Swiss scientist uses rust and water to store solar energy
Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne are currently developing a groundbreaking technology aimed at harnessing light energy to produce hydrogen. As a clean energy source, hydrogen doesn’t leave behind any carbon footprint, making it an environmentally friendly alternative. This innovative approach relies on common raw materials like water and metal oxides—such as rust, or iron oxide—to generate energy.
To ensure that this solar hydrogen technology remains economically viable, Kevin Sivrula and his team focused their efforts on inexpensive metals and streamlined production processes. Their work is detailed in a recent article featured in the monthly journal "Nature-Photonics." Although still in its experimental stages, the equipment shows promising results.
The concept of converting solar energy into hydrogen isn't entirely new. For over four decades, researchers around the world have explored ways to make this happen. Back in the 1990s, Michael Grätzel from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology collaborated with a colleague from the University of Geneva to pioneer the field of photoelectrochemical (PEC) tandem solar cells. These devices directly split water to produce hydrogen. Both early prototypes and the latest iterations rely on similar principles: dye-sensitized solar cells combined with oxide semiconductors.
While the current versions of these prototypes operate at relatively low efficiencies, ranging between 1.4% and 3.6%, they hold immense potential for improvement. According to Sivrula, "Our goal is to reach a conversion efficiency of 10% within the next few years, all while keeping the cost per square meter under $80. At this price point, we believe this method will compete favorably with traditional hydrogen production methods."
As the team continues refining their designs, they remain optimistic about the future of solar hydrogen technology. By leveraging affordable materials and optimizing processes, they hope to bring this sustainable energy solution closer to widespread adoption.