Indian Scientists Develop Scalable Technology to Produce Green Hydrogen from Water Using Solar Energy

New Delhi – In a breakthrough that could reshape clean energy production, a team of Indian scientists from the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) in Bengaluru has developed an advanced, scalable device that generates green hydrogen by splitting water molecules using solar energy and earth-abundant materials.

Green hydrogen, widely regarded as one of the cleanest fuels, holds the potential to decarbonise industries, power vehicles, and store renewable energy. However, large-scale and affordable methods of producing it have been difficult to achieve—until now.

The CeNS team, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), succeeded in producing green hydrogen without the use of fossil fuels or costly materials. Instead, they relied entirely on solar energy and easily available, sustainable elements.

"By carefully choosing smart materials and combining them into a heterostructure, we've developed a device that not only delivers excellent performance but is also scalable," said Dr. Ashutosh K. Singh, who led the research effort.

“This takes us a step closer to building cost-effective, large-scale solar-to-hydrogen energy systems,” he added.

Published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A, the research highlights the development of a cutting-edge silicon-based photoanode built using a unique n-i-p heterojunction architecture. This structure features layers of n-type titanium dioxide (TiO?), intrinsic (undoped) silicon, and p-type nickel oxide (NiO) semiconductors—engineered to optimize charge separation and transport.

The team employed magnetron sputtering, an industry-ready, scalable deposition technique, to precisely apply these materials. This method enhances light absorption, speeds up charge movement, and minimizes recombination losses—factors critical to efficient solar-to-hydrogen conversion.

More than just a laboratory achievement, the device demonstrated impressive real-world performance. It achieved a surface photovoltage of 600 mV and a low onset potential of approximately 0.11 V_RHE, making it highly efficient at generating hydrogen under sunlight.

Crucially, the device maintained remarkable long-term stability, operating continuously for over 10 hours in alkaline conditions with only a 4% drop in performance—an exceptional feat for silicon-based photoelectrochemical systems.

According to the researchers, the device combines high efficiency, low energy input, durable performance, and affordability, making it highly attractive for widespread use.

The team also scaled up the technology, demonstrating successful water-splitting using a 25 cm?2; photoanode—signifying potential for real-world applications.

With continued development, this innovation could lead to solar-powered hydrogen energy systems for homes, transportation, and industrial use—ushering in a cleaner, greener energy future.

With inputs from IANS