Researchers from the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology have improved solar fuel technology by developing the most efficient method to date for splitting water into hydrogen and CO2 using sunlight. The new method, which is based on a novel process developed at Twente University, involves heating up an aqueous solution containing carbon dioxide with sunlight in order to split it down its two components. Professor Jurriaan Huskens said the figure was the highest-ever efficiency for a silicon-based design, but that 15% efficiency is needed for the technology to become economically viable.
Researchers from the University of Twente's MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology have improved solar fuel technology by developing the most efficient method to date for splitting water into hydrogen and CO2 using sunlight. The researchers accomplished a maximum efficiency of 10.8% by decoupling the site where the photons are collected from the site where the conversion takes place. Professor Jurriaan Huskens said the figure was the highest-ever efficiency for a silicon-based design, but that 15% efficiency is needed for the technology to become economically viable.