A breakthrough in sunlight-driven hydrogen production could redefine the future of clean fuel. Researchers have developed an atomically dispersed nickel (Ni)-based photocatalyst capable of generating green hydrogen directly from water—and even seawater—using sunlight. The innovation addresses one of the major challenges in sustainable hydrogen production by eliminating the need for sacrificial reagents, which are typically required in conventional photocatalytic processes.

The newly developed Ni-based photocatalyst achieves hydrogen evolution rates of up to 270 μmol/g/h (168 mmol/gNi/h) under standard conditions. Even more remarkably, under direct sunlight, the system delivers hydrogen generation rates as high as 17 μmol/g/h (10.6 mmol/gNi/h). Its ability to function efficiently using seawater, producing hydrogen at a rate of 144 μmol/g/h, demonstrates significant potential for large-scale, real-world applications in coastal and offshore environments.

Beyond its impressive efficiency, the photocatalyst exhibits exceptional durability and stability. It remains active even after 720 hours of operation—comprising 140 hours of continuous irradiation and 580 hours of resting time—and maintains its performance over more than 15 operational cycles. This long-term stability makes it a strong candidate for integration into scalable hydrogen production systems.

Detailed structural and spectroscopic analyses—including high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS)—confirmed the atomically dispersed nature of the nickel species within the catalyst. These studies also provided deep insights into the mechanism behind its superior efficiency, revealing that atomic-level dispersion plays a pivotal role in enhancing photocatalytic activity and durability.

The development represents a key step forward in the global effort to produce green hydrogen sustainably, offering a scalable, solar-powered route to hydrogen generation without the use of costly or environmentally harmful additives. By enabling hydrogen production directly from seawater, this innovation opens the door to vast new sources of renewable fuel and underscores the transformative potential of atomically engineered photocatalysts in achieving a carbon-free energy future.

Source: 

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/jacs.5c11004