Toward better catalysts—and a hydrogen economy
The results do much more than explain water splitting’s inefficiency; they also offer a guide on how to change it for the better.
“A key goal is to move away from fossil fuels and toward a hydrogen economy,” Geiger said. “One long-pursued idea is to use a material with the right electrocatalytic and optical properties. Through solar radiation, it generates catalytically active sites that do the electrochemistry.”
“You still need to apply a current to perform the electrochemistry, but the sun’s photons allow you to apply less voltage. And the less voltage you apply, the cheaper the fuel becomes.” Our study shows that the catalyst surfaces need to be tailored to facilitate water flipping so the electron transfer can initiate.”