A team of engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) drew on plant leaves as inspiration for the device, which they say can be easily manufactured and used on a large scale.
When exposed to sunlight, the device absorbs water from the air and produces hydrogen. The hydrogen produced in this way could be used as fuel or for the long-term storage of solar energy, the authors wrote in the scientific journal “Advanced Materials” on Wednesday.
The main innovation in the model are the novel electrodes, which have two key properties: they are porous, in order to maximise contact with water in the air, and they are transparent, in order to maximise solar radiation on the semiconductor coating.
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Green hydrogen vies for centre stage in climate change fight
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As world leaders come under growing pressure to tackle climate change, green hydrogen is gaining traction as an important part of the solution.
In its current form, the prototype can already produce hydrogen when exposed to the sun’s rays. However, the scientists admit that efficiency is still “modest”.
The next step is to optimise the prototype, including through determining the ideal fibre and pore size as well as the most suitable materials.
To produce the electrodes, the researchers fused glass fibres together at high temperatures. The resulting platelets were coated with a thin layer of fluorine-reinforced tin oxide – a material known for its conductivity, robustness and ease of production. The plate was then given another coating: a thin film of light-absorbing semiconductor materials.
Switzerland commits CHF50 million to combat rural poverty worldwide
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The Federal Council approved a contribution of CHF49.5 million ($54.1 million) for the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
Arrests made in raid against Turkish criminal organisation
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A cross-border raid against a Turkish criminal organisation was conducted, including property searches in cantons Aargau and Zurich.
Up to 4,000 Swiss army soldiers to protect Ukraine peace conference
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The Federal Council has authorised deployment of army personnel for the Ukraine peace conference on the Bürgenstock in June.
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The business association, Swissmem, reports that there are increasing signs that the bottom of the downturn will be reached this year.
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SWISS plans partial shift towards solar fuel
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Swiss International Air Lines plans to start using small amounts of solar fuel in its planes as of next year, the company’s CEO has said.
How sustainable fuels created from thin air could solve the energy crisis
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Swiss scientists have built a mini solar refinery that produces synthetic fuel from just sunlight and air. The technology is now being scaled up.
The Swiss firm that wants to power planes with green jet fuel
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The Swiss company Synhelion is developing the world’s first industrial-scale plant to produce synthetic fuels from CO2, methane, water and sunlight.
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