Scientists at Stanford have set a new efficiency record for storing solar energy using water-splitting chemistry. They captured and stored 30% of the sun's energy through stored hydrogen, beating the prior record of 24.4%. The team used an organic compound called poly(ethylene glycol) to split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The next stage is to reduce the costs of the triple-junction solar cells and catalysts, including platinum.
Scientists at Stanford have set a new efficiency record for storing solar energy using water-splitting chemistry. They captured and stored 30% of the sun's energy through stored hydrogen, beating the prior record of 24.4%. "Improving efficiency has a remarkable impact on lowering costs," said associate professor Thomas Jaramillo, the team lead. The next stage is to reduce the costs of the triple-junction solar cells and catalysts, including platinum.