Splitting water with sunlight produces hydrogen

Through precise control, the research team successfully developed a specialized titanium dioxide material with significantly enhanced performance — its use of ultraviolet light exceeded 30 percent, and its hydrogen production efficiency under simulated sunlight was 15 times higher than previously reported titanium dioxide materials, setting a new record, Liu stated.

"If used to create a 1-square-meter photocatalytic material panel, around 10 liters of hydrogen can be produced with one day of sunlight," Liu said.

The achievement was published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

"We aim to further improve the technology to enable efficient utilization of visible light in sunlight," Liu revealed.

He also noted that China currently accounts for over 50 percent of global titanium dioxide production, supported by a robust industrial chain.

"With continued advancements in photocatalytic water-splitting efficiency, this technology holds promise for industrial application, and could drive the transformation of energy systems," Liu added.

Xinhua